Campton Hills to focus on road improvements, hiring a new administrator

CAMPTON HILLS – Residents of Campton Hills can look forward to road resurfacing in 2024, Village President Barbara Wojnicki said.

“We need several of our roads resurfaced and, of course, the funds are very, very lean,” Wojnicki said. “We are working with a couple of engineers on a road program.”

Another issue for officials will be balancing the village’s budget, Wojnicki said.

“Obviously this year there are no American Rescue Plan Act funds to help with certain expenses – things we’d like to do,” Wojnicki said.

The village had some drama in 2023 with the firings of its village administrator and village administrative assistant.

Hiring a new village administrator is a priority in the new year, Wojnicki said.

“We have an interim village administrator, Mark Rooney,” Wojnicki said. “He is very, very experienced, easy to work with and it’s just great working with him. We are all excited.”

Rooney came to the village after the board approved an employee lease agreement with Govtempsusa, LLC, in September.

The Village Board has not yet voted on offering Rooney a contract, but Wojnicki said it was unanimous in a consensus of the board to offer him a contract.

“Everybody is so open space focused out here. He totally gets it and jumped right in and seems to be going in the right direction,” Wojnicki said.

The village also can look forward to a new restaurant at the former The Lodge on 64, Wojnicki said.

The village’s interim Police Chief James Levand is attending a staff and command school hosted by Northwestern University to prepare sergeants to move up to a chief position, she said.

“We’re certainly not finished with our chief. He’s a great guy,” Wojnicki said.

The village is waiting for a resolution of a State Police investigation of Chief Steve Millar, who is on paid leave.

Wojnicki said Levand can rely on the additional training if he chooses to go to another municipality.