$30,000 Above Predecessor: Joliet Hires Former Indiana Town Manager

JOLIET — Five months ago, Dustin Anderson learned that his tenure as the town manager of Munster, Indiana, was coming to an end after nine years. Now, after serving as a city of Joliet consultant for more than three months, Joliet City Manager Beth Beatty made Anderson the city's permanent community development director along with a $180,000 salary.

Anderson replaces Eva-Marie Tropper, who was let go in March along with Cesar Suarez, the city's economic development, plus one of the employees in human resources. Anderson is being paid $180,000, which is about $30,000 more than his predecessor was making two years ago.

In July 2022, Patch reported that community development director Eva-Marie Tropper was making $150,858, and she also received an auto stipend, plus a fuel stipend.

Joliet's City Hall has undergone significant changes in names and faces over the past few months. Last week, Joliet's long-time corporation counsel, Chris Regis, a close confidant of former two-term Mayor Bob O'Dekirk, learned his days of working at Joliet's City Hall had come to an end, leaving Regis out of a job.

Also, last week, Joliet announced the hiring of Lauren Staley Ferry as the new city clerk. She has been the Will County Clerk since 2018. She fills the position held by Christa Desiderio, who was promoted to the new deputy city manager position, a job that went unfilled for several years.

Joliet did not issue a press release in regard to the departure for Regis, however, the city issued an announcement in regard to the Anderson hiring.

After parting ways with Munster in February, Anderson announced on his LinkedIn profile:

"No one of sound mind takes the role of manager in local government thinking that the duration of their appointment will be at their sole preference. Nearly all my mentors and many a manager better than myself have found themselves in transition due to shifting councils and circumstances. I now find myself also in transition.

"As managers, we are given a tremendous responsibility to act as temporary stewards of a permanent place. To have the chance to look over the horizon and prepare, to get to constantly learn and adapt, and to deliver the services people depend on in a predictable and transparent manner - well, it is a special thing. I look forward to a new adventure in placemaking, budgeting, managing, and leading. Better things are possible."

Anderson has been serving as a consultant since April 22 to oversee the Joliet City Hall department which includes several key areas such as Planning and Zoning, Neighborhood Services, Building, Inspection Division, and Economic Development.

“The city is fortunate to have found a person with Dustin’s unique background, expertise and long list of accomplishments to fill this important position,” Beatty announced. “He has been involved in municipal operations since 2006 and has proven his ability to lead the department successfully the past several months. We are delighted he has accepted the position to be a part of the transformational change Joliet is experiencing.”

According to Joliet's press release:

Anderson spent nearly a decade as the Town Manager in Munster, Indiana, overseeing the town’s entire operations including finance, human resources, public works, community development, police and fire. He secured funding for and completion of a $25 million intersection realignment and grade separation project, the first revision of the Town’s land development code in 30 years, and oversaw more than $100 million in public-private- partnership commercial development.

Anderson has a master's of public affairs from the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Criminal Justice from Indiana University.