Kane County appoints interim director for treasurer while searching for Rickert replacement

Board also names interim building manager; OKs public information officer post

The Kane County Board approved interim directors for the treasurer's office and building management on Tuesday. The temporary directors will run those offices while officials search for new appointments for those posts.

GENEVA – The Kane County Board approved a resolution Tuesday appointing Maria Herrera as Interim Acting Treasurer and to declare a vacancy in the office, following the resignation of David Rickert on Jan. 3.

Herrera is currently an employee of the Treasurer’s Office and would serve until a replacement for Rickert is approved, officials said.

“Maria was the recommendation from our former treasurer Rickert to act as the interim and she has been with Kane County … for over 20 years,” Board Chairwoman Corinne Pieorg said. “So I think she will be a good steward for us during this transitional time.”

Pierog said state statute requires the county to appoint a new treasurer within a 60 day period.

“So this will be somebody who has signature authority during that period of time to manage the office,” Pierog said.

“During this period of time, we will be putting together a committee which will be consisting of community members throughout Kane County,” Pierog said. “We will be putting out a general call. I would like Mr. Shepro, as both my vice chair and head of the Republican Party here in Kane County, to perhaps elaborate on how this committee structure would work.”

Shepro said when former state’s attorney John Barsanti became a judge, the board used a similar procedure to choose Joe McMahon and public meetings were held.

“That committee’s task was to invite applications for the position, conduct interviews, obtain public input and to make a recommendation to the County Board Chair,” Shepro said.

“The chair is – by law – the officer vested with authority by statute to fill the vacancy for the balance of Mr. Rickert’s term, which would expire in December or Nov. 30 of 2022,” Shepro said.

The chairman makes the appointment with the advice and consent of the county board, he said, also according to the statute.

The process should be completed in 60 days, he said.

“I applaud this approach to it. I think it’s about the most transparent that we can get,” Shepro said. “The only requirement besides being a registered voter is the statute does say that the person selected must “be a member of the same political party as the individual who departed was at the time of his election.’”

The County Board also approved a resolution appointing Chris Allen as interim executive director of building management as Rickey Sparks also recently resigned.

Allen is Director of Capital Projects for the Kane County Building Management Department. He will fulfill the temporary appointment until officials hire someone for that position.

Board member Drew Frasz, R-Elburn, said he endorsed Allen’s appointment.

“I work with him almost on a daily basis with the new building construction as well as with the Mill Creek SSA (Special Service Area) operations and I’m on the Administration Committee, which he reports to,” Frasz said. “I think he would do a great job – and is actually doing the job as we speak. So, highly endorsed.”

Pierog said she received a letter of recommendation from Sparks commending Allen’s work and his ability to work collaboratively “and to just be a good support for all of his team.”

The board also took final action to support the creation of a public information officer.

The person in the position will be responsible not only for Kane County Connects electronic newsletter, but in creating a consistent communication plan for county government, integrating the county’s communications, public relations programs and initiatives into a consistent statement that supports the county’s mission, according to the resolution.

The person hired for the position would interact with all county officials, departments and members of the media to help the public be informed about county information, according to the resolution.