Longtime city of Elgin lawyer William Cogley to retire
William Cogley, corporation counsel and chief development officer for the city of Elgin, is retiring Wednesday, Jan. 31, after more than 34 years with the city.
As head of the municipal legal department for 26 years, his tenure puts him among the city’s longest-serving department heads in recent history, having served under five mayors and nine city managers, a news release said.
He will be succeeded by Christopher Beck, who currently serves as assistant corporation counsel under Cogley, the release said. Beck was chosen by City Manager Rick Kozal following a competitive national search.
“It has been an honor to represent the city of Elgin,” Cogley says. “I am grateful for the professional relationships I have built with my colleagues over the years and have enjoyed our work together. It has been rewarding to be a part of a team that works toward the same goals and to see the outcomes that benefit the community.”
As corporation counsel, Cogley represents the city in all legal matters and serves as counsel to Elgin’s elected and appointed officers, including the mayor, the city council, the city manager and other department heads.
His role evolved to include serving as the city’s chief development officer, a position that allowed him to be the central coordinator for such things as facilitating annexations and development projects, the release said.
“Bill Cogley has left an indelible mark on the city while serving as corporation counsel and chief development officer,” Kozal said. “Bill’s legal expertise, institutional knowledge, leadership and unwavering dedication to the organization and community is truly remarkable.”
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Beck has worked for the city for 16 years, the release said. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and earned law degree in 2000.
Kane County sheriff to award $500 college scholarships
Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain is accepting applications for two $500 college scholarships he’ll be awarding for the 2024-25 academic year.
The two scholarships are part of more than $58,000 being awarded by the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association, according to a news release.
The money can be used for tuition, books and fees. Applicants must be permanent Illinois residents and attending an Illinois school on a full-time basis in the 2024-25 school year.
The deadline to apply is March 15. Applications are available at www.ilsheriff.org/youth-2/ or by going to the Kane County Sheriff’s Office, 37W755 Route 38, St. Charles.
Elgin funeral home collecting Valentine cards for vets
Symonds-Madison Funeral Home in Elgin is collecting Valentine’s Day cards through Friday, Feb. 9 to be delivered to local veterans service organizations, nursing homes, hospitals, churches and senior living facilities.
Cards can be hand-made or store-bought and should be signed, according to a news release. They can be dropped off Monday through Saturday at a special mailbox in the lobby of the funeral home, 305 Park St.
To arrange for a veteran to receive a Valentine, call 847-741-1128. To volunteer to help local veterans, go to bit.ly/OperationLOVE.