La Grange Park’s Board of Trustees unanimously swore in a familiar face as the Village’s permanent finance director at their July 25 meeting.
Larry Noller, who previously held the position for eight years, will replace interim director Daniel Wiersma, beginning July 31.
“This is the right thing to do at this time,” Noller said before being sworn in by Village Clerk Meghan Kooi. “La Grange Park is a great community and the Village staff is awesome.”
Wiersma also served as interim finance director between the time that Noller left in June of 2022 and Austin Haacke being hired in December of the same year.
Noller returns as a non-contract, at-will employee, with an annual salary of $157,000, in addition to a $3,000 for serving as the Village treasurer.
He will participate in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) and be eligible to participate in the Village’s other benefit programs.
When the Village contracted with the search firm, GovTemps USA, that came up with Haacke, it had a guarantee clause that the firm would pick up the cost of one replacement search should he not serve a full year. So, except for advertising, the Village was spared the full fee of another search.
Noller received his undergraduate degree in geology from St. Louis University. He also has a master’s of science in environmental science from Indiana University and master’s of public administration — with a concentration in fiscal administration — from Northern Illinois University.
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Prior to his eight years at La Grange Park, Noller served as Assistant Finance Director for the City of Wheaton, and as interim and assistant finance director for the Village of Glen Ellyn.
During his time in La Grange Park, Noller was responsible for the Government Officers Finance Association’s Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting for three consecutive years.
Noller was especially grateful that members of the Village’s finance staff had turned out to see his return.
“It means a lot to me,” he said.
Trustee Jamie Zaura was happy with Noller’s return to La Grange Park.
“We’re happy to see you back, Larry,’ she said.
The next La Grange Park Village Board meeting will be 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 8 at the La Grange Park Village Board Room, 447 N. Catherine Ave.
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.