On April 25, Mary Anderson announced her resignation from the position of Director of Public Services for the Village of Niles. Her last day in this position was April 30.
Mary Anderson started working for the Village of Niles on October 27, 2014, rising to the top from a pool of 30 candidates following a three-month-long search process to fill the vacant Public Services Director position. Anderson previously was the Director of Public Works for the municipalities of Champaign and Highland Park in Illinois, and Port Orange in Florida. She was appointed a Public Works Leadership Fellow by the American Public Works Association in 2013.
Anderson’s career in Niles was marked by several significant marquee projects, most notably the implementation of the Storm Water Master Plan Tier 1. The Tier 1 projects included the ambitious and successful Cleveland Corridor Sewer Improvement project, which was the largest infrastructure project in Village history and finished a year ahead of schedule. Other projects included Milwaukee Avenue streetscape improvements, renovations of the Leaning Tower of Niles, and overseeing the Village’s ADA transition plan. She also was personally involved with developing the Village’s traffic calming policy, implementation of the first traffic-calming project, bicycle lane installation, ongoing fleet downsizing or “right-sizing,” and staffing optimization. Most recently, Anderson was instrumental in the design and the now-underway construction of the Morton Grove Niles Water Commission Water Supply Improvement Project, a $90-million project which will connect Morton Grove and Niles to a cheaper Lake Michigan water supply through the City of Evanston.
Mary Anderson’s career with the Village of Niles came during a time of exciting legacy projects, and she leaves a lasting positive impact on the lives of current and future residents. Village Manager Steve Vinezeano praised her “unwavering dedication and service to the Village of Niles over the past 3.5 years,” further noting, “It has been a personal pleasure to work alongside her on the challenges associated with stormwater, the new water project, and the professionalization of the Public Services Department. Her support will be missed.”
Following Anderson’s resignation, current Niles Public Services Assistant Director and Superintendent of Streets and Sewers, Fred Braun, will be the interim Director of Public Services. Department Heads and Committee members will be officially appointed for the new fiscal year at the May 22 Village Board Meeting, and an interim Director would be appointed at that time if a new permanent hire has not been chosen.