Joliet Will Add New Economic Development Specialist

JOLIET, IL - The Joliet City Council has given the green light to creating a new mid-level management position at City Hall. In a 6-1 vote, the council approved adding an economic development specialist. Councilman Pat Mudron voted against the measure and councilman John Gerl was not in attendance at the time of last week's vote. The new hire will work closely with Steve Jones, the city's economic development director, as well as the yet-to-be hired Joliet city manager, a vacancy created by May's retirement of Jim Hock.

Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk urged the council to approve the new position to help lighten the workload of Jones, who is busy with several large scale multi-million dollar developments and redevelopment projects around Joliet. The new economic development specialist would help oversee a number of "smaller-scale projects" that are probably being missed or neglected, the mayor said.

"He's been clamoring for this position for some time," O'Dekirk said of Jones.

The pay range for the new position will be between $49,600 and nearly $66,000. The new hire's salary will depend on qualifications.

Several council members agreed the new position is needed at City Hall. "He's certainly be full-time, full-time," council member Larry Hug said of Jones. "We might be missing some smaller projects so I certainly support this thing."

Council member Mike Turk ultimately voted for creating the position, but before the vote, Turk expressed some concern with the fact that Joliet had not funded the post within the current annual budget.

However, city officials noted, the new economic development specialist may not be hired until around December, meaning there's a good chance the person won't start working for Joliet until 2018.

File image via City of Joliet