New Village Employee Will Commute From Texas

New Lenox's recently hired economic development director will be doing business from Texas—and commuting back to Illinois a couple times a month on the village's dime.

Nancy Roman, who worked in the same position in Shorewood for 13 years, followed new village administrator Kurt Carroll to New Lenox. She starts Sept. 19, but was recently married and is moving to Texarkana, Texas, with her husband.

During Tuesday's Village Board meeting in Shorewood, Roman said she is going to commute to New Lenox and conduct the rest of her business from Texarkana.

Mayor Tim Baldermann said the village will pay for all of Roman's work-related travel expenses, which he estimated to cost about $10,000 annually. But that will be more than covered in the village's budget: Roman's salary is $60,000, a big dropoff from the $86,000 budgeted for that position this year (that's what her predecessor made). It's still a full-time position.

Roman still has a home here, so there won't be any other lodging costs associated with her long commute. Baldermann said she'll likely stay in New Lenox for two full weeks each month and Texas the remainder of the month, though it could change month-to-month based on the schedule.

After Randall Lowman resigned in August 2011 following 12 years with the village, Mayor Tim Baldermann said the village immediately planned to hire Roman. And though trustees knew she was moving to Texas they weren't concerned with whether it would affect her work.

"A lot of what economic development directors do, they're communicating by telephone or email, and she's been in this area for a while," he said. "It's a lot of the same circles. She knows all the players and has a proven track record."

He cited her work attracting new businesses to Shorewood and working closely with existing businesses during Route 59 construction, both things she'll have to do in New Lenox as Route30 is widened and the new Silver Cross Hospital opens.

The primary responsibility of the economic development director is to market the village as an attractive place for new businesses. That involves attending trade shows, creating marketing material and more.

At a New Lenox Village Board meeting in August, Roman said she’s excited for all the expected growth in New Lenox, especially around the new Silver Cross Hospital campus and Route 30 upon the projects' completion.

“I think New Lenox is positioned very well for new development when the economy comes around,” she said.