After 16 years at the helm, Palos Park Village Manager Rick Boehm plans on retiring this spring.
Mayor Nicole Milovich-Walters said at the Jan. 12 village council meeting that the job is being posted for a new manager and that Boehm will be serving until April or May.
“We’re grateful for his leadership and many contributions that he has made in Palos Park over the years,” she said.
She added that the village will give him a proper sendoff in the coming months as he closes in on retirement.
Boehm, 66, was a village manager for Orland Park and Oak Brook before a stint in the private sector prior to his arrival in Palos Park.
He has enjoyed the people he has worked with over the years.
“Palos Park has always elected some really good public officials,” Boehm told the Regional News. “While they may not always agree with each other, they show a lot of respect for each other.
“Not only do they respect each other, they respect staff. While that sounds simple and should be common in local government, it’s not always the case.”
He also said he loved working side-by-side with his co-workers on staff.
“It’s just a fantastic group of individuals,” Boehm said. “They have come together for the betterment of the village and its residents.
“It’s a joy to come to work.”
Boehm said he is looking to spend more time with his family and may do some volunteer work during his retirement.
Money for the police
The Palos Park Police Foundation received $10,000 from an anonymous donor, Police Commissioner Dan Polk said.
The foundation was established in 2010 and helps the department with funds that are outside of the village’s budget.
“It’s an additional source,” Polk said. “For example, the foundation’s funds allowed us to hire a consultant that then allowed us to seek grants to bolster the activities of the Palos Park police.
“We like to spend our time out in the streets making citizens feel safe. Writing grant proposals is not our forte. We have better success when someone does this for a living and actually helps us write these grant requests.”
Milovich-Walters said that in recent years, the department received $200,000 in grants thanks to the money spent on a consultant.
“The foundation is critical to our success as a police department,” Polk added.
Rec center gym reopened
The Palos Park Recreation gym is back to being open for business after it received a face-lift.
“Thank you for your patience while we were getting the gym floor sanded, painted and stained,” Commissioner Rebecca Petan said. “It looks beautiful.
“We have new lighting and it just looks wonderful.”