Conley Will Make About $20,000 More By Leaving Joliet

Joliet IL

17 February, 2022

11:47 AM

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JOLIET, IL — After joining Joliet in 2018 making $58,000 as the city's new economic development specialist, Derek Conley is leaving Joliet to make a $135,000 base salary as the new economic development director for St. Charles. Conley's last day with Joliet is Friday. Conley was hired for the position by Heather McGuire, who was the Crest Hill city administrator for several years until she left Crest Hill for a huge salary increase to lead St. Charles last July. In St. Charles, Conley will get a car allowance stipend of $5,940, bringing his total compensation package to about $140,940. Conley will be making about $19,940 more to work for St. Charles compared to what he is making under Joliet City Manager Jim Capparelli. According to Joliet payroll records, Conley has been making about $121,500 since 2020. Image via city of Joliet FOIA Conley was promoted to Joliet's economic development director, following the promotion of Steve Jones by the Joliet City Council to make Jones the city's interim city manager. Jones remained in that role for 13 months, leaving Joliet in August 2020. After Conley became economic development director, Joliet did not fill his previous position of economic development specialist. Conley's pay increase to work for St. Charles is nowhere near as large as the one McGuire negotiated when the St. Charles Mayor Laura Vitek hired her last summer. In 2020, McGuire's last full year on the job as city administrator for Crest Hill, she made $152,666. McGuire received a raise of $59,804 to join St. Charles. Her starting salary last July as St. Charles' city administrator was $212,470. McGuire's multi-year employment contract continues with St. Charles through the spring of 2025. On Tuesday night, several members of the Joliet City Council wished Conley great success in his new position with St. Charles. "You did a tremendous job, my friend, and it's really sad to lose you," remarked Councilman Larry Hug. "Big shoes, big shoes, big brown shoes to fill, and you're going to do great up there in St. Charles. They know a diamond in the rough that's turned into a diamond. We're going to miss you." Conley stepped up to the Joliet Council podium to offer a few brief remarks. "I really enjoyed my time here," Conley told the Council. "This is a great place to do economic development. I've got my hands on a lot of great projects." Councilwoman Jan Quillman wanted everyone to know that one of Conley's great accomplishments will take place many months from now, after he's long gone from Joliet. "I'm so happy for you and your career to expand it, and this young man has just really gone on fire here," Quillman said. "Just to name a couple, Lion Electric, and everyone's favorite that's been talked about forever, Olive Garden. Here's the man you can thank. Good luck in all your endeavors." Derek Conley was hired away from Joliet by former Crest Hill official Heather McGuire. Image via St. Charles Heather McGuire got a raise of about $60,000 to take over St. Charles last summer. Image via St. Charles