Elmhurst Consultant Costs Questioned

ELMHURST, IL – Three Elmhurst aldermen this week questioned the costs for consultants who handle projects in economic development, among other areas.

The costs for longtime consultants Charles Van Slyke and Ken Bartels are scattered in different funds in the city's budget.

Van Slyke started as a consultant with the city in 1988 and Bartels in 2009.

Their latest three-year contracts were approved in 2021 and last through November 2024.

Under the terms, Van Slyke, a former Elmhurst University vice president, can work up to 900 hours a year, making $110 an hour, for a total of $99,000.

Bartels, a senior vice president at Community Bank of Elmhurst, makes $100 an hour for up to 500 hours a year, totaling $50,000.

Bartels is assigned to help with strategic planning for economic development, improve communications with residents and assist with the Elmhurst History Museum's fundraising, among other things.

Van Slyke, meanwhile, handles economic development and redevelopment matters, including the negotiation of leases, easements and real estate contracts.

Van Slyke is also a member of the DuPage County Board of Review, which handles tax assessment appeals.

At the City Council's budget meeting Monday, Alderman Jacob Hill asked the museum's executive director, Dave Oberg, about how Bartels helps.

"Ken Bartels advises me both personally and professionally and advises the (museum) foundation as well on fundraising issues," Oberg said, adding the foundation chips in $5,000 for the consultant's work.

Oberg credited Bartels with introducing the concept of a sponsorship program.

"That is a very robust exhibit sponsorship program. We're only three weeks into the new sponsorship program, and I'm really halfway through our goal," he said.

Assistant City Manager Mike Kopp said the consultants bill their work to different city funds.

Aldermen Michael Bram and Emily Bastedo also had questions about the consultants.

Bram asked for the city to provide more details on the consultants' costs for a later budget meeting.

In March, Patch reported that Ward 2 council candidate Jake Meding was Bartels' stepson. In an interview with Patch at the time, Meding promised to abstain from any votes related to his stepfather's contract.

Meding lost to Karen Sienko in northside Ward 2 in the April election.