The team at Macomb city hall will have a new member beginning Jan. 20.
The city council agreed to hire Cesar Suarez to be Macomb’s new community development director.
Suarez had been economic development director in Harvey, which is south of Chicago. He has also worked in Galesburg, Peoria, and Joliet.
City Administrator Scott Coker told TSPR the search team liked Suarez’s experience in economic development.
“We have a lot going on with different projects here in Macomb, and I think that we can really build on that and continue that,” Coker said.
The city council approved Suarez’s starting salary of $90,000.
“Because of his years of experience, I feel that we need to be on the higher end of the pay scale to make it attractive,” Coker said.
He said the city received 32 applications and interviewed five candidates.
City council member Justin Schuch praised the search process.
“I want to commend the team for doing a good review process, having a strong applicant pool,” Schuch said.
Suarez replaces Miranda Lambert. She left late last year to become the assistant director of economic and community development for the city of Decatur.
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