Retiring Public Works Director Molded Bolingbrook 'From a Dot to a Major Player'

When Mike Drey started as director of public works and engineering in 1979, there were only three traffic signals in Bolingbrook. There are 57 today.

Bolingbrook's population was 36,000. Boughton Road and Route 53 were two-lane roads. There were only two fire stations (today there are five). 

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Over the next 34 years, "Bolingbrook went from almost a dot to a major player in Illinois," Drey said. Except for a short respite from the job from 1986-1992, Drey molded that growth as Bolingbrook reached 73,366 residents and expanded its boundaries.

He will retire Friday after serving the village for 29 years. In honor of Drey's service to Bolingbrook, Mayor Roger Claar announced earlier this year that the Bolingbrook Public Works building at 299 Canterbury Lane would be named after Drey. 

Drey moved to Bolingbrook's Winston Village in 1971 with his family and raised five children with his wife, Peggy. Drey and his wife were the first couple to be married in the Bolingbrook Town Center, he said. 

As a consultant civil engineer for nine years, Drey worked for dozens of municipalities. A job regarding Janes Avenue brought him to Bolingbrook. 

"I enjoyed the prospect of seeing something being built and having a hand in it," Drey said. "Roads, water mains, stormwater drainage -- basic infrastructure -- it's the core of society." 

As director of public works under three Bolingbrook mayors, Drey has overseen Bolingbrook's daily operations and maintenance for the village, from forestry to wastewater, streets to building maintenance. He managed big projects and planning to make sure there was adequate infrastructure for the growth of the village.

"One of the bigger things we did while that was going on was to mold that growth and make sure it was quality development," Drey said. 

There were the blizzards of 1999 and 2011, he said, and the floods of 1983 and 1996 (not to forget the flooding that took place last month). 

He tackled regional stormwater management, creating six major lakes along Weber Road to prevent flooding. Some of the flood plain was then able to be developed. The Bolingbrook Golf Club was one such result. 

Drey said he worked with Mayor Roger Claar to prevent sewage backup into homes. 

"We worked very hard and spent a lot of money to make sure no one gets sewage in their homes," Drey said. 

Drey credits his staff, who "makes me look good" and thanks the residents of Bolingbrook. 

"I appreciate being able to work for these people -- my neighbors," he said. 

Bolingbrook still faces some challenges, he said, like aging homes and empty storefronts. But he's proud of how far Bolingbrook has come under his tenure. 

"People used to look down their nose at Bolingbrook for a long time," Drey said. "They don't do that anymore. We're well-known throughout the state as a well-managed and vital community." 

Drey said he plans to golf, garden and travel during his retirement. He also plans to volunteer and possibly go back to work -- though nothing is set. But he'll miss the job, Drey said. 

"I'll miss the 2 a.m. phone calls from dispatch that we have a problem here, or a water main break," he said. "Those were always interesting."

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