Mullard becomes Lake in the Hills village administrator after interim appointment last month

Fred Mullard was hired as the new Lake in the Hills village administrator Thursday, the village announced in a news release Saturday. Mullard had been serving as interim village administrator since June 18.

Mullard takes over the position after former village administrator Jennifer Clough resigned in June. Clough was among several village officials who texted each other on their work phones during village board meetings about playing drinking games, and made jokes about COVID-19, documents obtained by the Northwest Herald showed earlier this month.

Mullard has worked for the village since 2001. He most recently served as the community services director before becoming interim village manager.

Prior to his time at the village, Mullard served 24 years in the U.S. Air Force as a civil engineering officer in various locations around the world before retiring as a major. He holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a master's in public administration from Troy University. He also is a licensed professional engineer in the state of Minnesota, according to the release.

In 2001, Mullard joined the village as deputy public works director and airport manager. He became public works director in 2005, a position he held until 2018, when he became the first director of the newly created community services division. As the director of community services, Mullard oversaw the community development and recreation divisions.

Additionally, Mullard represents Lake in the Hills on the McHenry County Hazard Mitigation Plan Committee and the public transportation advisory committee. He previously represented the village on the county's stormwater technical advisory committee.

“Fred is a true public servant,” village president Russ Ruzanski said in a statement. “He has already served Lake in the Hills for nearly 20 years and knows our community. Even before coming here, his 24-year service in the U.S. Air Force helped mold him into the leader he is today. I am looking forward to his management in the Village Administrator position and am confident he is going to take our community in the right direction. He is exactly what we need for this position right now.”

Mullard will oversee a staff of 143 people and administer an annual budget of $29 million. His first major project will be the preparation of the fiscal 2021 budget.

“Although we are facing challenging times, I am confident in our ability to overcome these issues due to the professionalism and dedication of our village staff,” Mullard said in a statement. “We will continue to improve so we can best serve our residents and businesses.”