Politics & Government
Mokena's Village Administrator Postpones Retirement
Mokena Village Administrator John Downs has agreed to postpone his retirement for at least a couple of years, the Sun-Times Media reports.
Mokena Village Administrator John Downs, who was eligible to retire in April, has agreed to stay on the job until the Lake Michigan water delivery system improvement project is complete. He expects it to be done by early 2015.
Downs, who has served in the same role for 25 years, was asked by the village board to stay on until some of the major ongoing projects are completed. Of particular concern is the Lake Michigan water delivery improvement project. On behalf of Mokena, Downs, 55, has been negotiating the village's share of the cost of upgrades with Oak Lawn since 2010, the Sun-Times Media reported.
The board also requested Downs' assistance in working through the transition period with the newly-elected Mayor Frank Fleischer.
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Downs said his $152,655 salary will remain the same. For his trouble, the village has agreed to "some post-retirement health benefits."
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