Barrington Area Council of Governments (BACOG) members honored retiring Executive Director, Janet Agnoletti and officially appointed her successor, Kimberly Saunders this week. BACOG provides support for regional planning and development and facilitates cooperative strategies for environmental and groundwater protection, legislative advocacy, and other governmental matters. Village leaders say Saunders’ experience makes her a clear choice to lead the organization of elected officials representing Barrington, Barrington Hills, Deer Park, Lake Barrington, South Barrington, Tower Lakes, and Barrington Township governments.
“Kimberly brings a combination of government and legal experience that is a great match for BACOG’s mission. We are excited to benefit from her commitment to fostering regional cooperation and preserving the unique nature of the Barrington area,” stated Vice Chairperson and South Barrington Village President Paula McCombie.
Prior to joining BACOG, Kimberly helped guide the state’s approach to economic development and infrastructure as a policy advisor to the Illinois Governor. She also served as a Senior Government Relations Officer at the Chicago Transit Authority, helping to manage its relationships with state agencies, the state legislature, and the City of Evanston. Most recently, Ms. Saunders served as an attorney focused on federal financial regulatory issues, providing extensive pro bono services, and serving on the Advisory Committee for her law firm’s community foundation.
Ms. Saunders also is an active member of the Barrington area community, having moved from Washington, D.C. with her husband and three children in 2017. She currently serves on the Village of Tower Lakes Plan Commission and as Vice President of Service for the North Barrington Elementary Parent Teacher Organization. She recently completed a term as Chair of the Tower Lakes Improvement Association’s Youth Committee. Kimberly received her Juris Doctor from Duke University School of Law, a Bachelor of Science in Social Policy from Northwestern University, and a Certificate in Mediation Services from the Center for Conflict Resolution. Ms. Saunders will be only the third executive director in BACOG’s fifty-year history.
Members of the Barrington Area Council of Governments (BACOG) unanimously passed Resolution #21-01 at the January 12th Executive Board meeting, honoring Janet Agnoletti as she retires after twenty years of dedicated service as BACOG’s Executive Director. The members of BACOG appointed Kimberly Beattie Saunders as her successor.
“Janet has been an exceptional leader for BACOG. Her work and skillset have strengthened the region’s focus on groundwater research and protecting the sustainability of our groundwater supply.”
“Her leadership has helped ensure effective regional cooperation on the important issues that impact Barrington area quality of life,” stated BACOG Chairperson and Barrington Village President Karen Darch.
Throughout Ms. Agnoletti’s tenure, BACOG has facilitated cooperative regional strategies on groundwater research and environmental conservation, legislative advocacy, emergency management, and member communications and training. Her leadership has enabled BACOG to provide comprehensive GIS resources to its member communities that has furthered the knowledge, technical acumen, and efficiency of their responses to land use proposals and environmental activities. Ms. Agnoletti has successfully lobbied legislators in support of BACOG member land use positions and built strong partnerships with local, state, and nationwide organizations to help promote a healthier Barrington area. Her strong work has reaffirmed BACOG’s position as an effective and esteemed regional council of local governments. After retirement Ms. Agnoletti will continue to serve on the Illinois State Water Survey Advisory Board and represent local governments’ interests in groundwater.
The full Resolution #21-01 may be seen on BACOG’s website here.
For more information about BACOG, contact Executive Director Kimberly Saunders at 847-381-7871 or visit BACOG.org, and BACOG’s page on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
The Barrington Area Council of Governments (BACOG) is a voluntary organization of elected officials representing the governments of Barrington, Barrington Hills, Deer Park, Lake Barrington, South Barrington, Tower Lakes, and Barrington Township. BACOG provides support for regional planning and development and facilitates cooperative strategies for environmental and groundwater protection, legislative advocacy, and other governmental matters. Learn more at BACOG.org.
I recall my early child hood sailing on a manmade lake in Barrington Hills at Dundee & Rt 59. I am a Watershed Advocate that live in the Thorn Creek Watershed, the Flashiest Stream in N. E. Illinois. For the past 40+ years, I have been working on Stormwater Management in the South End of Cook County where the Thorn Creek Sanitary District has attempted to control sewer Inflow & Infiltration with limited success. Since 2004, the MWRD of Greater Chicago has been responsible for Stormwater Management in Cook County and as the do not provide Sanitary Services in the Thorn Creek Sanitary District Territory, I believe we have a common problem that I would like to discuss with the Barrington Area Board of Government. Our comparable organization is the South Suburban Mayors & Managers Association but it is not responsive to the Health and Safety Issues created by Sewer Backup of numerous homes because the Stormwater Services are lacking implementation in the TCBSD Service Area which also crosses a County Line. In Illinois Stormwater Management is on a County Basis, not a Watershed Basis and that needs correcting if we are to have Sustainable Communities.