Sally Bennett named new treasurer for the Village of Rockton

Sally Bennett has taken the reins as the new treasurer for the Village of Rockton. Bennett has stepped into the position previously held by Dennis Hildebrandt of Siepert & Co., LLP.

The Village Board of Trustees approved Bennett's appointment at the Jan. 3, 2024 meeting with five yes votes and one abstention. Bennett started on Jan. 15 and will be in the office most business days.

Bennett has been treasurer of the Village of Winnebago for over 15 years.

Bennett has been a CIMT (Certified Illinois Municipal Treasurer) with the Illinois Municipal Treasurers Association since 2014. Prior to being a treasurer, she did office management work for a construction company.

She went to Judson College from 1998-2000 and has a bachelor’s degree in business management but is not of a CPA designation. Bennett has taken several accounting classes.

While seeking candidates for the treasurer position, the village posted an ad on Indeed and received several resumes.

“We conducted numerous interviews and second interviews and decided to hire Sally Bennett. We felt her experience and attention to detail were exactly what we were looking for,” Rockton Village President John Peterson said.

“I was doing research for a position we were adding, at the municipality I worked for, and I happened to see the ad for Village Treasurer in Rockton and had to apply,” Bennett said.

As treasurer, Bennett will have some level of participation in all the financial duties, to ensure proper internal controls.

“I will immediately start working on the 2024-2025 budget, which will be in effect on June 1, 2024,” Bennett said.

“The Village Board would like to see some additional reporting and that is a big priority for me, to make sure the Village Board has all the information they need to make a sound decision.”

Hildebrandt has filled in as the treasurer for the Village of Rockton since January 2023 following the resignation of former treasurer, Corrine Hughes, who moved out of state. Hughes, who was originally appointed in June 2022, helped with the transition of duties.

Hildebrandt has recently experienced an increase in business at Siepert & Co, where he is a partner.

“I met with Dennis in November, and we agreed that it was in both of our best interest to find a different treasurer. Dennis did a good job for us,” Peterson said. “I wanted someone in-house so they would be available to get us reports quicker and be more hands on during the budget process.”

“We feel having Sally in house will make the budget process better and we will get our reports in a timelier manner,” Peterson said. “Siepert and Jaye Quimby, our former treasurer, will mentor Sally to get her familiar with our accounts and to learn the process of how things work.”

Bennett and her husband Jason have been together since age 16. They have two daughters Samantha and Morgan. Their daughter, Morgan, and her husband live in Des Moines, IA.

“We plan to eventually move to Rockton. It was a plan we had before I applied for the job. We have always liked the Rockton 'vibe' and the move will bring us closer to our daughter, Samantha, and her family that live in Madison, Wisconsin, while still being in the area where we grew up,” Bennett said.

“I am truly excited to get started,” Bennett said.

“We are excited for Sally to join our team,” Peterson said.

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