Politics & Government

Tinley Park Village Manager Scott Niehaus Resigns Post

Niehaus leaves after 15 years spent in various roles within the Village of Tinley Park.

After 15 years with the village, Tinley Park Village Manager Scott Niehaus will leave his role to pursue a similar position with the Village of Lombard.

Niehaus will serve as Lombard's next Village Manager. His resignation is effective Jan. 20, 2014. 

“It’s with a heavy heart that I accept Scott’s resignation,” Tinley Park Mayor Edward J. Zabrocki said. “Scott has been an invaluable asset to the Village in the 15 years he’s been with us. We have had the opportunity to see Scott develop as one of the leading Village Managers in the Chicagoland area. While he will be sorely missed, we wish him well in his career path.”

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Niehaus has served as Village Manager for the Village of Tinley Park since May, 2003. Before that he served as Assistant Village Manager for both Tinley Park (from 1999 to 2003) and the Village of Elk Grove (from 1994 to 1999).

“As a young administrator, Tinley Park placed tremendous trust in me to be the day-to-day manager of a great community,” Niehaus said. “Over the past 15 years, I have been able to assist the Village Board in providing an exceptional quality of life to its citizens. I will be forever grateful for the leadership and support that the elected officials, staff and citizens have provided to me.”

Find out what's happening in Tinley Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In his time as Tinley Park Village Manager, Niehaus has overseen the expansion of the Tinley Park Convention Center; worked closely with the Tinley Park Village Board to help the Village maintain a balanced budget without any layoffs of municipal employees; and supervised the economic development of the Village, including negotiations for large retail and big box development.

Niehaus also assisted the Village in its redevelopment and construction of train stations at Oak Park Avenue (2003) and 80th Avenue (2013). Combined, the two stations serve approximately 3,000 daily commuters and have set a tone for future transit-oriented development in the immediate area.

In addition, Niehaus also helped coordinate a neighborhood drainage improvement program and the construction of a regional detention facility that resulted in the removal of more than 1,000 homes from the FEMA Regulatory Flood Plain.

Tinley Park has had only three Village Managers since 1976. Dennis Kallsen served in that position from 1976 to 1991, and Dave Dorgan from 1991 to 2003, when Niehaus took over.

Niehaus received bachelor’s degrees in political science and public administration in 1993 from Augustana College in Rock Island, and a master’s degree in public administration in 1996 from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.

The Tinley Park Village Board will hire a professional firm to conduct a thorough search for a replacement Village Manager. Current Assistant Village Manager Michael Mertens will be appointed as Interim Village Manager upon the departure of Niehaus until that process is completed.

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