Beth Beatty's 1st Year In Joliet: City Hall Shakeups, Tram and Taxes

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Joliet City Clerk Christa Desiderio was in line for a raise of nearly $43,000 now that Beatty has appointed her to fill the newly created position of deputy city manager at City Hall. “Christa is the best choice to help me in managing our city government and serving the people of Joliet,” Beatty announced in January. “She has strong leadership and managerial skills along with knowledge in the day-to-day operations of city government and is respected by the staff and City Council.”

Shakeup At Joliet City Hall: Several Directors Are Out Of Jobs

On March 8, Joliet Patch broke the news revealing that three highly paid employees at Joliet City Hall — city of Joliet economic development director Cesar Suarez, his boss, Community Development Director Eva-Marie Tropper and Krystal Walsh, the city of Joliet’s senior human resources generalist, are out of jobs this week as a result of an employment shakeup.

Tropper made $157,117 in 2023, Suarez made $135,207 in 2023, Walsh made $81,571, the city of Joliet finance department’s annual compensation report shows. Suarez’s ouster leaves Joliet without any full-time staff in the economic development office.

Joliet Patch wrote a follow-up column indicating that Beatty sent shockwaves through Joliet’s City Hall, putting all city employees on notice that poor performance will not be tolerated at the third-largest city in Illinois.

Joliet Hires New Public Relations Director: Rosemaria DiBenedetto

On May 20, Beatty announced that City Hall’s new media engagement and communications director position will be filled by Rosemaria DiBenedetto, a public relations executive who has been handling communication matters for Mayor D’Arcy. In her new role at City Hall, DiBenedetto makes a salary of $159,900.

“We interviewed every candidate that applied and met the minimum qualifications, but Rosemaria had the most experience in local government operations and public relations experience,” Beatty remarked in a news release. “Rosemaria has been advising municipal leaders and involved in local governments for over 35 years.

“The city needs a strong voice to serve as the city’s spokesperson while working with myself, the mayor, city council, department heads and others to handle the influx of media requests while promoting the good work we are doing on behalf of the residents.”

Joliet Names New Economic Development Director: Paulina Martinez

On May 20, Beatty announced that Paulina Martinez will be taking over as the city’s new economic development director. Martinez fills the vacancy created about two-and-a-half months earlier when Cesar Suarez was forced to resign after less than two years on the job, after coming to Joliet from Peoria. Prior to coming to Joliet, Martinez was working in Chicago as the business development director for World Business.

Martinez makes a salary of $135,000 leading Joliet’s economic development efforts. A lifelong resident of Joliet, she holds a master of arts in urban planning and policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a bachelor’s in sports, recreation and tourism from the University of St. Francis.

She is also a certified planner from the American Institute of Certified Planners and is vice president of the Joliet Latino Economic Development Association.

“Paulina has extensive experience not only in business development but also in municipal government, which will make her transition to the city easier,” Beatty said in her press release. “Her responsibilities, among many, include being the City’s business liaison and first point of contact for existing and prospective business owners seeking to locate to Joliet.”

Joliet Hires Lauren Staley Ferry For City Hall: ‘I Am Beyond Excited’

On July 31, the city of Joliet announced that Will County Clerk Lauren Staley Ferry applied for and has accepted a job offer to become Joliet’s new City Clerk. The City Clerk post was being advertised for applications since Joliet’s long-time city clerk Christa Desiderio took on the role of deputy city manager earlier this year.

“Lauren will bring her knowledge and expertise to the position and allow for this to be a much smoother transition to such an important position in city government,” Beatty stated in a release. “We posted the position months ago and I interviewed a number of candidates for the job, but no one could start day one with this much experience except Lauren.”

Staley Ferry was elected Will County Clerk in 2018. The press release outlined how Beatty made the final decision to hire Staley Ferry. Joliet Patch learned that Staley Ferry’s starting salary overseeing the city clerk’s staff at City Hall is $139,510.

$30,000 Above Predecessor: Joliet Hires Former Indiana Town Manager

On Aug. 5, Patch reported that Dustin Anderson learned that five months earlier that his tenure as the town manager of Munster, Indiana, was coming to an end after nine years. After serving as a city of Joliet consultant for more than three months, Beatty made Anderson the city’s permanent community development director along with a $180,000 salary.

Anderson replaced Eva-Marie Tropper, who was let go in March along with Suarez, the city’s economic development, plus one of the employees in human resources. Anderson is being paid $180,000, which is about $30,000 more than his predecessor was making two years ago.

Chris Regis’ Separation Payment From City Of Joliet Revealed

On Sept. 6, Joliet Patch revealed that the taxpayers of Joliet funded a $45,373 separation agreement worked out by the administration of Mayor D’Arcy and Beatty, agreeing to pay interim corporation counsel Chris Regis, a holdover from the previous administration of ousted two-term Mayor Bob O’Dekirk. Under the agreement, Regis’ full-time employment at Joliet City Hall came to a sudden end on Aug. 1.

When reached for comment about the separation agreement for Regis, the city of Joliet’s spokeswoman said that Beatty does not comment on personnel matters.

Regis had worked for Joliet in the legal department for about eight and a half years. According to the city’s annual compensation report posted online, Regis made a total of $158,873 in 2023. Based on his 2023 compensation, the separation agreement for Regis is at least three months of regular salary.

Joliet: Let’s Pay Austin Tyler $20.1 Million, Reject Lower Bid

In June, Beatty urged the Joliet City Council not to go with the low bid by the Lindblad Construction Company of Joliet and instead award a contract of more than $20 million to Austin Tyler Construction of Elwood for major street repairs and improvements, including the long-talked-about downtown City Square project that fell several years behind schedule.

The Austin Tyler contract will not exceed $20,107,271. The project is scheduled for construction through December 2025.

“Based on the above, it is recommended that the Mayor and City Council award the Contract for the Chicago Street Streetscape (Jefferson – Cass) City Square and Watermain Improvements, in the amount of $20,107,270.88, on behalf of Austin Tyler Construction Inc,” Beatty declared in her City Council memo.

It turns out that the Chicago Street streetscape and city square project would decimate several of downtown Joliet’s retail stores, bars and restaurants because once Chicago Street was closed to traffic, giant fences and concrete barriers were erected on both sides of the street, making it nearly impossible for pedestrians to visit places such as CUT 158 Steakhouse, Richardson’s Restaurant, Chicago Street Pub and more.

Larry Hug Ordered To Stop Bullying Beatty

On Sept. 3, four-term Joliet City Councilman Larry Hug was scolded toward the end of Tuesday night’s regular meeting by City Manager Beatty following a heated exchange that included Mayor D’Arcy taking the side of Joliet’s first-year city manager.

The disagreement arose after Hug brought up the topic of free parking in downtown Joliet. Hug suggested there was a string of text messages he sent Beatty in May and June that did not receive a response.

“Larry, let’s move on,” Mayor D’Arcy told him. “Let’s move on.”

“I still have them,” Hug told Beatty.

“Right, because you refuse to talk to me,” Beatty told Hug. “You want me to put everything in writing.”

“Yeah,” Hug agreed. “Nothing wrong with that. I’m willing to put everything I say in writing.”

“Well, sometimes it’s easier just to talk on the phone, so we can work together,” Beatty told Hug.

“A text would be (fine),” Hug suggested.

“I prefer to speak,” Beatty told him. “We can talk about our communication styles at a different time, but I will not let you bully me up here.”

Neighborhood Services Director For City Of Joliet Paid To Resign

On Sept. 17, Patch reported that for many years, the city of Joliet’s Neighborhood Services Department was a rock of stability, anchored by long-time and well-respected director Jeff Sterr. Nowadays, Joliet will be looking to hire its fourth permanent neighborhood services director since Sterr retired four years ago.

In another Joliet Patch exclusive, Patch’s editor has found that successor Michael Sinnet, hired for the role in November 2023, signed a separation agreement agreeing to end his employment with Joliet on July 22. In exchange for his departure, the city agreed to give Sinnet a severance totaling 14 days of salary.

“The City agrees to direct the City Manager, Deputy City Manager, and Human Resources that, during their employment with the City, they will not make any false and disparaging statements about Employee’s employment with the City, the termination of Employee’s employment or any other dealings of any kind between Employee and the City, to any third party, specifically including, without limitation, any past, present, or prospective employee of the City, any customer of the City or to any representative of any media,” the agreement states.

A Tram For Downtown Joliet? Beatty Blasted By Patch Readers

On Sept. 26, Patch reported that Joliet’s City Council would take a vote on Beatty’s recommendation that Joliet spend $95,000 to purchase a motorized tram for downtown Joliet. According to Beatty’s memo to the Council: The purchase of a motorized tram “would facilitate visitor and citizen movement throughout the downtown area during and after ongoing construction activities. This vehicle will also be utilized during special events such as the IHSA Baseball Tournament, City Historical Tours, etc. This vehicle will also potentially be available for use by entities such as the Joliet Area Historical Museum and Heritage Corridor Destinations.

Within a few days, on the Joliet Patch Facebook page alone, the downtown Joliet tram story received approximately 320 reader comments, along with nearly 60 shares. There were numerous animated GIFs posted by readers from a “Simpsons” episode where Springfield purchased a monorail system.

From Juliana: “Of all the things they could spend money on to benefit the city, with all of its problems…this is what they come up with? Someone with connections is for sure profiting.”

“For a second I thought it was April 1st!,” wrote Marcy.

“The 95k is just for the bus. After you hire a couple of drivers and pay their benefits, buy fuel, do some maintenance, and repairs, I think it’s going to be closer to 500k.” — David

“But you can literally walk the downtown area from one side to the other in like 10 mins.” — Tom R

“Why? You can walk downtown Joliet in very little time! Waste of money!” — Mary Jo

Joliet OKs New Dunkin’ Restaurant, Rejecting City Manager’s Advice

On Nov. 5, Patch reported that Beatty tried to warn the Joliet City Council not to vote in favor of adding another Dunkin’ restaurant to the city, but at a Council meeting, council members rejected the former Chicago deputy mayor’s wisdom. Instead, the Council voted 8 to 0, following the lead of east-side Councilman Cesar Cardenas, who voiced strong support for the redevelopment.

The Council unanimously voted in favor of approving a special use permit so that Dunkin’ can turn the empty KFC Restaurant at 600 block of Collins Street.

According to Beatty’s memo to the Council, on Oct. 25, the Department of Public Works received a formal request for a drive-thru facility for a proposed Dunkin’ Restaurant at 600 Collins St. The restaurant will be located on the site of the former KFC / Taco Bell Restaurant.

At the time of the vote, Councilwoman Jan Quillman declared, “I agree. I think it’s better to have a Dunkin’ Donuts there than emptiness. And I know that the neighbors wanted it as well, so I’ll vote aye.”

Joliet Tax Hike, Gasoline Tax Increase Proposed In 2025 Budget

Beatty urged the Joliet City Council follow her recommendation to raise property taxes and gasoline taxes, and adopt a 2025 city budget that calls for several new city employees and higher salaries for the city’s best-paid staff.

Beatty’s budget calls for increasing Joliet’s fuel tax from 4 cents to 5 cents for gasoline and from 4 cents to 11 cents for diesel fuels. The revenue generated from the fuel taxes would be used to fund more vehicle replacements for the city, according to Beatty.

Beatty notes that the property tax levy increase amounts to an increase of more than $3 million.

“This is expected to increase our rate by approximately 1.05 percent to existing properties,” Beatty pointed out. Beatty’s memo to Mayor D’Arcy and the Council notes that Joliet’s general fund levy would increase from its 2023 rate of $0.2098 to $0.2464 and the total overall levy would increase from $1.1507 to $1.1628. The City Council ultimately voted in favor of increasing the property taxes and the fuel taxes to fund increased spending and at least 30 new positions for the 2025 budget.

After the Dec. 17 meeting, DiBenedetto issued a press release that includes no mention of the fact that Joliet property owners will be paying higher property taxes to fund the 2025 city budget.

“Great care was taken to allocate funds wisely and prudently,” Beatty said in the press release. “Departments had to justify and explain budget requests. There was a tremendous amount of scrutiny and time spent reviewing the dollars currently budgeted, as well as any new funding requests.”

The City Hall press release contained a suggested headline of “Joliet Passes 2025 Budget Investing in Future Growth, Increased Funding in Public Safety and Water.”

To read the Joliet press release, go here.

$100,000 Taxpayer Subsidies For Downtown Joliet Businesses

On Dec. 17, the Joliet City Council voted in favor of Beatty’s proposal to create a business continuity grant for downtown Joliet’s Chicago Street businesses that are struggling financially because of the ongoing street and public utility improvement projects.

According to a Council memo, Joliet approved an initial allocation of $250,000 from the general fund to establish the Business Continuity Grant, where funds of no more than $100,000 will be disbursed to qualified applicants, under the program parameters and meeting approval from the Council or Beatty.

For grants of more than $25,000, Beatty has authorization to fund the first $25,000, city reports show.

Joliet is proposing the taxpayer-funded subsides for various downtown Joliet businesses because Chicago Street has been torn up and off-limits to motorists since May, when Joliet’s $20 million underground street repair project began, a project that could last until the spring of 2026.

Related Patch coverage: Beatty Takes Over Joliet City Hall: Here’s Why She Left Chicago

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