Lakemoor village administrator leaves after 12 years

After 12 years, Lakemoor is starting 2022 without David Alarcon steering the ship as village administrator.

Alarcon left Lakemoor Dec. 31 for the same position in Winthrop Harbor. Matt Dabrowski, director of community and economic development, is serving as interim village administrator.

"We'll be looking for a replacement," said Mayor Todd Weihofen. "With the staff we have, we don't have to jump."

The village administrator is appointed by the mayor with board approval. Weihofen said he'll be discussing next steps with the village board.

Alarcon, a former Cook County corrections officer, served as village administrator in Park City before being hired in Lakemoor.

At the time, Weihofen had just been elected mayor with a mission to lure business. Alarcon's hiring in November 2009 came during a financially tight time. Weihofen broke a tie to bring him on board.

"Lakemoor has been asleep for a long time," Weihofen said at the time.

Since Alarcon took the helm, village officials sought to change the small town's image from a sleepy backwater to a place to do business.

The establishment of a special financing district for the eventual development of a Woodman's Food Market on a long-vacant parcel at routes 120 and 12 was the biggest of those initiatives. Development of ancillary businesses on the 74-acre Lakemoor Commons, anchored by Woodman's, is ongoing.

Alarcon said Monday that with the village board's goals largely accomplished, it was time to look for a new opportunity.

"I'm delighted the team finished all those goals," Alarcon said. "After 12 years, I started to look to see what's out there."

A new village hall along busy Route 120 was another indication of Lakemoor's direction.

"I think the key thing was we got away from the negativity - we turned that page," Alarcon said. "To the region, we were able to prove we were an up-and-coming community."

Winthrop Harbor is in the northeast corner of Lake County bordering Wisconsin with frontage on Lake Michigan. The village administrator post opened up last summer when Gregory G. Jackson was chosen for the top administrative spot in Long Grove.

Alarcon said Winthrop Harbor will focus on surrounding natural areas as a lure for visitors, homebuilders and businesses.

"We're going to do a comprehensive marketing strategy," he said.

"It's another opportunity to really see a community develop. They have the infrastructure and the will to do it."

Weihofen said the focus going forward in Lakemoor will be on the old downtown along Route 120 and areas to the west including Lily Lake.

"I've enjoyed the last 12 years with him (Alarcon) and wish him the best of luck," Weihofen said.