Arlington Heights administrator gets contract extension until 2026
Arlington Heights Village Manager Randy Recklaus has inked a new deal that will keep him in the top management position at village hall until late 2026 - around the same time as the potential kickoff at a new Chicago Bears stadium at Arlington Park.
Recklaus, who was hired to oversee day-to-day operations of the municipal government in November 2014, received a four-year contract extension this week from the village board. The old agreement was due to expire on Nov. 10, 2022, but the board unanimously agreed to extend it to Nov. 10, 2026.
The contract amendment comes with a 5% raise, from a base salary of $234,332 to $246,048.60.
Recklaus got a 5% raise a year ago, a 4% raise in 2019, and a 4.5% raise in 2018.
The recent raise and contract extension came as a result of Recklaus' annual review with the village board in closed session Nov. 1, said Mayor Tom Hayes, who cited the manager's "outstanding performance of duty" over the last 12 months.
Hayes said that included getting the village through the pandemic, recommending no property tax levy increase for the third year in a row, and leading his team of department heads and employees.
Recklaus is expected to oversee the massive planning process for the proposed new stadium at the 326-acre racetrack property, which the Bears have under contract for $197.2 million. The internal effort at village hall is expected to involve nearly every village department, including planning and community development, building and life safety, finance, police, fire, public works and integrated services.
The review process is expected to take up much of the coming year, as a closing on the pending purchase isn't expected until late 2022 or early 2023. Observers believe the earliest the stadium could be done is 2026.