SAUK VILLAGE | Beverly Sterrett, finance director for Sauk Village, retired effective March 1.

Sterrett managed the village's finances for 20 years.

Chief of Staff Brunetta Hill-Corley brought in Gonzalez & Associates P.C. as an interim finance administration.

"We have advertised the opening for the position," Hill-Corley told the board at Tuesday night's meeting. "We have posted for the finance position online as well as with 26 of the local communities job line."

Gloria Gibson, an associate of Gonzalez & Associates, provided a status report to the board.

"We are working with the chief of staff, the village treasurer and other village officials to get a thorough understanding of the village's finances and their status," Gibson said. "We hope to be able to provide you with a short-term and then a long-term plan that meets your needs."

In February, the village received a much-anticipated and long-awaited bond issuance for $575,000. That money has helped the village catch up on an estimated $587,000 in bills that need to be prioritized and paid.

Village Attorney Jimmy Vasseli told the board the current financial situation was stable, but that more financial resources would be needed.

"We are in discussions with local banks regarding the possibility of loans," Vasseli said. "We are also researching state and federal money that may be available. Our bond money, along with the tax abatement, has put us back on good footing, but we need to keep moving forward."

Village Engineer Jim Czarnik told the board some of the proposed street resurfacing projects may have to be re-examined. Czarnik said the harsh winter caused more damage than originally anticipated, and some of the streets may have to be reconstructed instead of just resurfaced.

In particular, 224th Street from Jeffery to Chappel, and Strassburg from 223rd Place to Clyde are in much worse shape than originally thought.

The re-examination was expected to be done in the next month.