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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
BARRINGTON VILLAGE PRESIDENT KAREN DARCH RETIREMENT
WHEREAS, Karen Darch first moved to the Village of Barrington in April 1985 and immediately fell in love with the Village’s green open space, its quaint, walkable downtown, and the easy access to Chicago via rail; and
WHEREAS, Darch, an attorney and graduate of University of North Carolina School of Law, began her service as a Village Trustee in 1995; and
WHEREAS, she went on to be first elected as Village President in 2005 and was then re-elected in 2009, 2013, 2017, and 2021; and
WHEREAS, during her tenure as Village President, Darch was elected as Northwest Municipal Conference President: 2008-2009
WHEREAS, Darch has also served as the Barrington Area Council of Governments Chair from 2012-2013 and 2020-2021; and
WHEREAS, Darch additionally served as Chair of the Executive Committee for the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus from 2012-2012; and
WHEREAS, she additionally served as President, Vice President, and Legislative Chair of the Executive Committee for the Northwest Municipal Conference; and
WHEREAS, Darch was also a founding member of the Northwest Water Planning Alliance; and
WHEREAS, she additionally served as Vice-Chairman of the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC); and
WHEREAS, Darch was also Co-Chairperson on The Regional Answer to Canadian National Coalition (TRAC); and
WHEREAS, she has also served on the Northwest Mayors Technical Committee for Transportation Funding, the DuPage Railroad Safety Council Board of Directors, and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) Board of Directors; and
WHEREAS, at the state level, Darch has served on the Illinois Municipal League as President from 2016-2017 and was also appointed to serve on the Governor’s Bicentennial Celebration Commission, his Consolidation and Unfunded Mandates Task Force, and as Co-Chair of his Local Government Transition Subcommittee; and
WHEREAS, nationally, Darch has served on the National League of Cities Transportation & Infrastructure Services Committee since 2013, and was an avid advocate for rail safety initiatives; and
WHEREAS, Darch has remained heavily involved in the local community she serves, including on the Healthier Barrington Coalition, Jeffrey Pride Foundation, Character Counts, District 220 Strategic Planning Committee, Barrington Area Council on Aging (BACOA), the Good Shepherd Hospital Development Council, and Lake County Illinois Military Advisory Council; and
WHEREAS, some of Darch’s key projects have included establishing the Village of Barrington's home rule status, the downtown redevelopment plan, funding for construction for Route 14 underpass, upgrading water and sewer systems, Barrington’s White House community and cultural center, and the June in Bloom Project to Beautify Northwest Highway; and
WHEREAS, Darch announced that she would not run for re-election; and
WHEREAS, after serving as Village President for 20 years, Darch presided over her final meeting on Monday, May 12, 2025; and
WHEREAS, after over 30 years of dedicated service, advocacy, and leadership for the Village of Barrington, Darch will now be able to spend her much-deserved retirement with her husband Doug Darch, six children, and seven grandchildren;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners do hereby congratulate Karen Darch on her many years of service to the Village of Barrington, and wish her well on her retirement; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this text be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body, and suitable copies be tendered to Karen Darch.
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