La Grange Hiring New Public Works Director

LA GRANGE, IL – La Grange is set to appoint a new public works director, a position that became vacant in December.

On Monday, the Village Board is expected to vote on the administration's selection of Tim O'Brien, who most recently worked as village engineer in suburban Niles.

According to O'Brien's LinkedIn profile, he joined the Niles staff nearly a decade ago, starting as a civil engineer and being promoted to village engineer in early 2023.

In Niles, O'Brien managed an $80 million capital improvement program and led the development of a lead service line replacement plan, among other things, according to a La Grange memo.

Also in Niles, O'Brien was the project manager for its Golf Mill Park stormwater project, which involved surface and underground water storage.

The village hired a recruitment firm, MGT, to fill the position. The firm received 44 applications.

The position became vacant when Rick Colby resigned after three years. He was stepping away "to spend time with his young family as well as to pursue other endeavors," the village said at the time.

Russell Davenport, the assistant public works director, has been serving as the interim director.

Editor's note: A previous version of this story indicated that Tim O'Brien was associated with the village of Lisle. He was not.