Buffalo Grove gives warm send-off to retiring manager

Buffalo Grove trustees said goodbye and thank you on Monday, as Village Manager and longtime Finance Director William Brimm worked his last meeting.

Brimm has retired after 32 years with the village, the last four as village manager.

Village President Elliott Hartstein read a proclamation in honor of Brimm, which also made it official that the clubhouse at the Arboretum Golf Course will be named in his honor.

Hartstein repeated much of what he said two weeks ago at a party in honor of Brimm held at the Arboretum Club. He joked that in recent times, Buffalo Grove has been referred to as a reality television series.

"Probably the best one that captures it all is 'Survivor,'" Hartstein said

"Bill Brimm is a survivor. Bill Brimm is voluntarily leaving the island," Hartstein added "But most significantly, he is leaving the island after he, in fact, created the island. He created an island of financial stability for the village of Buffalo Grove."

He said Brimm deserves credit for much of "what we see in our community," including the financial mechanism that enabled the village to get Lake Michigan water.

Hartstein said Brimm also created the financial foundation for a municipal fire department, the construction of a police headquarters on the village campus, the renovation of village hall and the building of the clubhouse at the Arboretum Golf Course.

Brimm's efforts to put Buffalo Grove on a solid financial footing, Hartstein said, resulted in the village receiving a AAA bond rating from both Standard & Poor's and Moody's.

"This is something that communities all around strive for," Hartstein said. "Other communities are facing cutbacks and layoffs. Buffalo Grove has been able to keep (its) fees and taxes under control. Buffalo Grove is in good stead. And we have Bill Brimm and his leadership and stewardship to thank."

"I'm really humbled," Brimm said after receiving a standing ovation from a packed council chambers.

"I'm just humbled by the experience, I'm humbled by the opportunity that I have been given and been blessed (with). All those accolades, and while I appreciate them I didn't do them by myself. I would be a fool to think that I would have or could have or did."

Among those applauding Brimm was Trustee Lisa Stone, despite her repeated conflicts with Brimm, most notably over reports of odors related to the Land & Lakes landfill and composting facility.

Stone said she did not attend the party in Brimm's honor because of the dispute she is continuing to investigate regarding e-mails from Brimm that she says were altered.