Wauconda board hires firm to find new village administrator

Wauconda officials have hired a familiar recruiting firm to find the town's next top administrator.

GovHR USA has been tasked with finding a replacement for Village Administrator Doug Maxeiner, who's leaving to take a similar post in Moline, near the Illinois-Iowa border.

Maxeiner, whose resignation is effective this Friday, has led the village staff since November 2013.

GovHR USA is a Northbrook firm that helped bring Maxeiner to Wauconda from his previous job in Hampshire. It also lured Police Chief David Wermes to Wauconda from a post with the Schaumburg Police Department in 2015.

Wauconda Trustee Tim Howe is confident in the firm's abilities.

"The village has used GovHR for two hires in the last four years," he said. "It's not an understatement to say both were home runs."

GovHR USA will be paid $13,000 for its work and will receive up to $5,000 in additional funding to cover expenses and advertising, according to the contract the village board approved Tuesday night.

The search for a new administrator could take at least 12 weeks. It'll be up to the village board to approve a hiring.

"While we certainly would like to get somebody on board more quickly, the process involves an application period, a vetting stage by GovHR in cooperation with the village to narrow the candidates and then interviews with trustees for the pool of finalists," Howe said.

Public Works Director Brad Fink will serve as interim village administrator until a more permanent replacement is hired. Trustees approved Fink's temporary promotion Tuesday, too.

Maxeiner's tenure in Wauconda was tumultuous from the start because of political disagreements between then-Mayor Frank Bart and the village board over numerous issues. Bart was replaced by Mayor Lincoln Knight last month.

Maxeiner stayed out of the fray and instead focused on financial efficiency at village hall and improving the local economy.

As he prepares to depart, Maxeiner voiced strong praise for Wauconda's elected leaders.

"Regardless of what was happening in the political arena, I would have to say that I have had the pleasure of working alongside some of the finest individuals that I have been associated with in 25 years in this business," he said. "They truly care about their employees and about this community succeeding, and I don't think I could pay them a greater compliment than that."

Knight said Maxeiner "led with professionalism, strength and even courage at times."

"He came to Wauconda during a difficult time but never took his eyes off the goal of long-term success for our village, and for that I am grateful," Knight said.