By Sean Copeland
JOLIET – Bloomington City Manager David Hales is reportedly in negotiations to become the city manager of Joliet.
According to the Herald News, Joliet city council member Terry Morris had said Hales is a finalist for the city manager position but couldn’t comment on whether he’d been made an offer.
This is now the third city manager position Hales has sought in recent months. WJBC had reported in early July 2017 Hales had been a finalist for the position in Topeka, Kansas. Prior to that, Hales was also a candidate for city manager in Racine, Wisconsin until he withdrew consideration.
Hales has been Bloomington’s city manager since 2009. His contract expires in July 2018. His salary is $189,000.
According to the Herald, another councilman, Michael Turk had said it was down to two candidates. Other candidates for the job have since been hired on in other cities, or at least negotiating for them.
Turk later said he expects the decision could be made by the council’s Oct. 3rd meeting. Mayor Bob O’Dekirk told the Herald-News, the announcement could be made within the next week.
Originally more than 75 candidates had applied for the job, with the initial salary paying between $185,000 to $220,000.
Sean Copeland can be reached at sean.copeland@cumulus.com.
