Lakewood Village Administrator Catherine Peterson Takes Dean’s Post at Woodstock’s Aurora University

A press release from the Village of Lakewood:

City of Crystal Lake. The recent transition of fire service to the City of Crystal Lake through a long-

Village Announces Departure of Village Manager

Catherine Peterson

Catherine Peterson sits between Village President Erin Smith and Village Attorney Michael Smoron.

After 14 years of dedicated service to the Village of Lakewood, Village Manager Catherine Peterson will be leaving in early September as she has accepted a position as Dean of the Woodstock Center of Aurora University.

Peterson began her career with the Village back in June 2002 when the community faced significant fiscal challenges.

Municipal tax rates for taxes paid in 2012.

Municipal tax rates for taxes paid in 2012.  

Throughout various Board transitions, including 3 Village Presidents, Peterson’s consistent leadership and fiscally conservative management brought financial stability to the Village.

The Village now has the lowest tax rate in McHenry County and has achieved a AAA bond rating, the highest possible bond rating and a designation reached by only 2.6% of Illinois municipalities.

Never compromising Lakewood’s long-standing commitment to “quality living in a natural setting,” she remained committed to long-term planning to secure Lakewood’s future.

Peterson was instrumental in diversifying the otherwise limited tax base by introducing Lou Malnati’s to the community and further developing the Lakewood Commons commercial center.

She prided herself in understanding the Village Board’s vision and communicating this vision to potential developers early in the process.

Working to realize this vision, she oversaw the voluntary annexation of over 600 acres of property into the Village of Lakewood. Just last year, these properties were included in a Tax Increment Financing District, which better positions the Village to attract commercial development to the far western limits of the community.

The area in Lakewood's Tax Increment Financing District.

The area in Lakewood’s Tax Increment Financing District.

Peterson initiated the process of extending utilities to the critical intersection of IL Route 47 and IL Route 176 by completing both preliminary and phase II engineering.

The intersection of Routes 176 and 47 as it will appear after it is reconfigured by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

The much safer intersection of Routes 176 and 47 as it will appear after it is reconfigured by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

While construction won’t commence until a viable project can be brought forward, these critical steps strategically position the Village for the growth necessary to sustain the needs of the community.

Understanding the critical value of investing in infrastructure, Peterson secured grant funding for significant roadway improvement projects.

One of Lakewood's Bike Paths is on Huntley Road.

One of Lakewood’s Bike Paths is on Huntley Road.

She has also placed an emphasis on improving drainage issues on the east side of the community through the continued investment in storm sewer maintenance and repair.

In 2007, she oversaw the construction of a state of the art wastewater treatment facility.

Part of Lakewood's sewage treatment plant.

Part of Lakewood’s sewage treatment plant.

With the completion of the East Sewer project this summer, Peterson will have further advanced the Village towards becoming a self-sustaining community.

New and old sewer pipes on Broadway.

New sewer pipes on Broadway will take effluent west to the Lakewood Sewage Treatment Plant.  The old pipes took it to Crystal Lake’s plant.

Peterson partnered effectively with other communities to provide the highest quality services to
residents at the lowest price.

She set an example for other communities to follow through intergovernmental agreements with the City of Woodstock, Woodstock Fire Rescue District and the City of Crystal Lake.

The recent transition of fire service to the City of Crystal Lake through a long-term service agreement was an important step in securing financial stability for the Village in the future.

The Village of Lakewood is supported by a very capable staff, including outstanding Department Managers.

Peterson was responsible for hiring

  • Redtail Golf General Manager Chris Neuhart
  • Chief of Police Leigh Rawson
  • Deputy Village Manager Shannon Andrews, who will continue to provide outstanding leadership following her transition.
Erin Smith

Erin Smith

“Catherine Peterson has been an outstanding leader, both within the Village of Lakewood and the
broader community,” said Village President Erin Smith.

“On behalf of the Village Board and the residents of Lakewood, I would like to thank Catherine for her strategic vision, strong financial leadership and many contributions to our community.”

The Village Board will be meeting in the coming weeks to discuss options for her replacement.

= = = = =
Missing from the press release is the electric aggregation program that saved participants hundreds of dollars a year and the designation of the Dorr Township part of Lakewood as an EB-5 development area.

Areas in McHenry County where EB-5 foreign investments can be traded for a Visa.

Areas in McHenry County where EB-5 foreign investments can be traded for a Visa.  The intersection of Routes 47 and 176 are included.


Comments

Lakewood Village Administrator Catherine Peterson Takes Dean’s Post at Woodstock’s Aurora University — 13 Comments

  1. Hahah!

    Now maybe they can actually find someone to take her place that they’ll pay a more reasonable salary.

    This admin was costing Lakewood way too much!

  2. If you are suggesting that Aurora University is a public institution, you are incorrect.

  3. Erin Smith, paints such an optimistic picture of a glass half full.

    Forgetting to inform that is half full of human excrement!

  4. Did she have a hand in Turnberry?

    Advocate for the Sportsplex in the face of the interests of the taxpayers?

    Just wondering.

  5. Do bonuses count towards the final salary that her pension would be based on?

    Maybe that awkward attempt at giving Ms Peterson a bonus was intended as a pension spiking going away present.

  6. What will Queen Smith do without her puppet master calling the shots?

    I found the press release and quotes from Smith to be more disingenuous rhetoric from Village Hall.

    Examples:

    “Voluntary annexation of over 600 acres”

    was for the Sports complex that cost Lakewood residents well over $1 million dollars in legal and consulting fees;

    “She was responsible for the hiring of Leigh Lawson”,

    while true, what about the tenure of his predecessor, Peterson’s neighbor, who at a annual salary of over $100,000 was allowed to work 3 hours a day and give nothing to the community while the Village Manager sat back and watched it happen?

    Our gain is the University’s loss.

    Maybe now she can hire Smith to a full time position and keep the dream alive.

  7. Disingenuous is putting it mildly. (Only in my opinion, from what I see as a Lakewood Village Trustee, of course)

    The Woodstock D200 Intergovernmental Agreement she refers to, alone, can simply not be reasonable explained.

    This agreement, quite literally, put Lakewood residents at an unfathomable financial risk.

    I could go on – and on – but, I will refrain.

  8. A new door has finally opened now let’s get good employee’s for the people not people that think the taxpayers work for them.

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