East Dundee Village Administrator Erika Storlie, who helped stabilize the village government following her predecessor’s tumultuous tenure, is leaving the post after five years.
“I want to thank Erika for your tireless dedication to the village,” Trustee Kathleen Mahony said at Monday night’s Village Board meeting while filling in for Village President Dan Pearson. “You came into quite a fraught situation within the administration and staff as well as the board. We are all calm, happy people working hard and growing in the same direction (now). Thank you for your leadership in that.”
Storlie did not disclose if she’s leaving for another position elsewhere or for some other reason.
Village trustees appointed Deputy Village Administrator Franco Bottalico to serve initially as acting village administrator effective June 19 and then as interim village administrator starting July 3. He will receive a 15% raise this week, bringing his salary to $139,840, and a second salary bump to $163,800 in July, village documents show.
Mahony credited Storlie with having a vision for East Dundee, and the board will now see “where we can take some of these wonderful plans and ideas that have been put in place over the last few years,” she said.
Storlie was equally effusive about her time with the village and those with whom she worked.
“I just wanted to say all the thanks go to the staff, the residents and the village board because without everybody working collaboratively together, we wouldn’t have gotten half as much done as I could’ve envisioned,” Storlie said. “This community is extremely special.”
Bottalico said he’s prepared to carry on where Storlie is leaving off.
“I’m honored to keep the torch going and passing these projects and keep the momentum going that Erika has built and keep the board’s vision moving forward,” he said.
He also thanked the board for trusting him “with this responsibility for the next few months. It means a lot,” he said.
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Storlie started her career with the city of Evanston in 2004, where she served in numerous positions, including as city manager. She oversaw day-to-day operations and a budget of more than $360 million in that role.
East Dundee hired Storlie in December 2021 to replace former Village Administrator Jennifer Ramsay.
Ramsay’s contract was not renewed after an anonymous letter revealed she was having a romantic relationship with then-Assistant Village Administrator Brad Mitchell. The two were censured and expelled from the International City/County Managers Association for ethics code violations.
During Storlie’s tenure, the village purchased the former Haeger Potteries site and the former Doederlein Lumberyard and oversaw the building a parking deck in downtown. The village is preparing to annex more than 200 acres along Route 72, created several Tax Increment Financing districts, and launched summer events that draw large crowds to downtown.
“When people put down their differences and come together and work hard to make something better not just for themselves but for others, it’s really unique and amazing. For me, it’s been the most special part of this,” Storlie said at Monday’s meeting.
“I feel very happy knowing the village is in a really, really amazing place. I’m excited to see where you all are going to take it because everybody has the talent, the wherewithal and the dedication to roll their sleeves up and keep the momentum going,” she said.
Bottalico, who has been with the village since 2022, said East Dundee will post the position this summer.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.