Village Officials Celebrate Fall Fest Success; Reappoint Key Staff

Village of Monee Board Meeting | September 10, 2025

Article Summary: Following a successful Fall Fest, Monee officials praised village staff and volunteers for a safe and well-attended event. The board also unanimously approved the annual re-appointment of key village administrators and department heads.

Village Administration Key Points:

• Re-appointments: The board approved the re-appointment of officials including Administrator Ruben Bautista, Police Chief Scott Koerner, and Finance Director Darryl Bulliner.

• Safety Success: The Monee Police Department reported no major incidents during Fall Fest, despite large crowds.

• EMA Activity: The Emergency Management Agency (EMA) logged 451 hours and responded to 12 calls during the festival weekend.

The Monee Village Board on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, took time to celebrate the community’s recent Fall Fest and solidify its leadership team for the coming year.

Mayor Dr. Therese Bogs presented a slate of administrative re-appointments, which the board approved unanimously. The re-appointed officials include:

• Ruben Bautista, Village Administrator

• Scott Koerner, Police Chief

• Tony Lazzaroni, Deputy Chief

• Jude Knabe, Human Resource Director

• Darryl Bulliner, Finance Director

• Michelle Powell-Johnson, Front Office Supervisor

• Bill Barnes, Economic Development Director

• Dianna Kroll, Parks & Recs Director

• Ed Johnson, Public Works Superintendent

• Jill Donti, Interim Public Works Deputy Superintendent

• Lance Becvar, Interim Building Services Director

• Randy Ulaskas, EMA Director

• John Jones, IT Manager

• Kathy Leipold, Village Treasurer

Trustees offered high praise for the execution of Fall Fest. Trustee Heidi Gonzalez thanked Parks Director Dianna Kroll and the various departments for their coordination.

“We are keeping an eye on parking, being there to assist with the Police Department, communicating with surrounding towns… watching the weather, and having an emergency plan for everything and more,” Gonzalez said of the EMA’s role.

Trustee Scott Youdris reported that the EMA put in 451 hours over the weekend and handled 12 calls. He noted that carnival leadership was “very complimentary” of the Monee Police Department.

“Thank you to Monee Police Department for protecting every person’s safety even in the most stressful situations,” Gonzalez added.