The Peoria Housing Authority is looking for its own chief executive officer to run the agency.
This comes about three years after the PHA tapped the Springfield Housing Authority's Jackie Newman to come in and improve operations, following the departure of the housing authority's last local manager. The PHA was rated substandard by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for several years prior to the management change-up.
In January, board chairman Carl Cannon said the desired improvements have taken hold since Newman came on board.
"This current contract with our friends -- and I do say our friends -- in Springfield has been amazing. We are progressing," Cannon said.
A search committee is now formed. At the PHA's February meeting, Cannon said Newman is guiding the committee through the first steps of the process. A marketing and recruiting campaign also is planned.
There's no immediate timeline for Newman's exit.
Cannon said the PHA board doesn't want to rush the process. Currently, the PHA also is preparing for the redevelopment of the Taft Homes. The first wave of approved Section 3 applicants will begin job training next week at Illinois Central College to work on the upcoming demolition and construction.
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