Western Springs Getting New Official

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – After less than 1½ years, Western Springs' community development director, Tony Budzikowski, is leaving his position, village records indicate.

On Monday, the Village Board is set to vote on Heather Valone, the assistant community development director, to take Budzikowsk's job. Her first day would be March 15.

The village said Budzikowski is retiring.

Heather Valone, Western Springs' assistant community development director, is poised to take the community developer director's job March 15. (Courtesy of Village of Western Springs)

According to her LinkedIn page, Valone has served as the village planner in La Grange, Lemont and Brookfield.

In 2014, Valone graduated with a master's degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Iowa.

Budzikowski has more than three decades in community development and planning, according to his LinkedIn page. He has served in such roles in Crest Hill, Oak Brook, Lisle, Carol Stream, Naperville, Bartlett, and Onalaska, Wisconsin.

In Western Springs, Budzikowski replaced Martin Scott, who served in the job for 17 years.

Budzikowski started in Western Springs in September 2022.