Tonelli to temp as Joliet economic development director

Engineering consultant Rod Tonelli will step in as Joliet’s interim economic development director until the city fills the job.

Joliet Economic Development Director Derek Conley leaves Friday to take the same job in St. Charles.

Tonelli, who is president of Reuttiger, Tonelli & Associates Inc., said he will have a transitional role only, something he has done previously in Shorewood and Lockport when those municipalities were looking for economic development directors.

“The interim’s role is just to provide continuity for projects in the department until a new director comes in,” Tonelli said.

Tonelli said he would be at City Hall part time and will be paid at an hourly rate.

According to the city, Tonelli will be paid $175 an hour for an anticipated 20 hours a week.

Joliet City Manager James Capparelli announced that Tonelli will be brought in as interim economic development director at the Tuesday meeting of the City Council.

Conley’s departure raised the question of how the city would handle economic development matters until a replacement was found. The city also is trying to fill the No. 2 position in the department. Joliet also is looking for an economic development specialist, a job that was posted in January.

As a consulting engineer at times, Tonelli represents developers seeking city approval for projects planned in Joliet.

He said the dual role is “not anticipated to be an issue” during the interim period. Once a developer is ready to apply to the city for approval of its plans, the project goes to city planning departments and would be out of the hands of the economic development department, he said.

Tonelli also is on the board of the Joliet City Center Partnership, which promotes business development in downtown Joliet. He served as the organization’s interim director last year when the City Center Partnership was looking for an executive director.

He also is on the board of directors of the Will County Center for Economic Development.