The Homer Glen Village Board on Wednesday hired Mike Mertens as the new village manager.
Mertens previously served as the assistant village manager of building and planning for the Village of Tinley Park, a job he held from 2003 until April. Prior to that, he worked as Tinley Park’s economic development director from 1998-2003.
Mertens, 49, will start June 1.
“It’s a passion of mine to serve the community,” Mertens said in an interview after the vote confirmed his appointment.
The Village Board in September fired Village Manager Cameron Davis, who was hired in 2011 under former Mayor Jim Daley. Mayor George Yukich, who defeated Daley in the spring 2015 election, said in September that the village board wanted to move in a new direction. Assistant Village Manager Heather Kokodynsky has been assuming the position of interim village manager since September.
Nearly 100 applicants sought the position, and a Village Board committee narrowed the prospects down to 15 candidates, then to five and then three finalists.
Yukich said that Mertens was highly qualified, having spent nearly two decades in Tinley Park. The board did not make a quick decision, Yukich said, adding that Mertens has a great personality and should work well with the village staff.
“My opinion and the board’s opinion is that Mike is the best,” Yukich said.
Mertens, of Chicago, has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Lewis University and an MBA from the Keller Graduate School of Management. He will make $120,000 a year as village manager.
Mertens said one of his strengths is spurring economic development. He said Homer Glen is unique in that it has only been an incorporated village for 15 years, and he looks forward to balancing future growth while maintaining a sense of community.
Village officials on Wednesday also praised Kokodynsky’s work.
“The job our interim village manager has done over the last eight months has been fantastic,” Trustee Brian Burian said. “We haven’t missed a beat with all the big projects in town.”
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
