Tim Wiberg, Brookfield’s village manager, announced his retirement from his role on Friday, Nov. 13. Wiberg’s last day as village manager will be Jan. 31, 2027. Assistant Village Manager Stevie Ferrari will serve as interim village manager beginning Feb. 1, 2027, until a permanent replacement has been hired following a nationwide search by the village board, according to a village press release.
“I have truly enjoyed my time in Brookfield,” Wiberg said in the release. “I have been blessed by Village Presidents and Village Board members who have collaboratively acknowledged issues and supported all efforts at addressing them. The future of Brookfield is bright and there are many exciting developments and projects coming the Village’s way.”
Wiberg did not immediately respond to requests for comment ahead of publication.
Wiberg joined the village in September 2018 as village manager after a six-month vacancy. Before he came to Brookfield, Wiberg spent 15 years as the village manager of Lincolnwood, and before that, he served as the deputy city manager of Highland Park for seven years, according to the release.
“Tim has served the Village of Brookfield in an outstanding manner,” Brookfield Village President Michael Garvey said in a written statement. “His professional and calm demeanor served the Village well. He instilled professionalism and reinforced with his staff that we all serve the residents of Brookfield.”
With Wiberg at the helm, Brookfield revitalized its parks and recreation department and expanded its offerings, including before and after school programs and special events like the beloved Music on Grand concert series.
Wiberg led the village through plans to address its aging infrastructure, beginning work to replace the village’s residential lead water service lines following a mandate from the state in 2022. Due to aggressive efforts by village staff to secure grant and zero-interest loan funding, Brookfield is set to nearly complete the replacement work in 2027, the same year that municipalities are required by Illinois to begin the task.
The press release highlighted Wiberg’s role in steering Brookfield toward increased economic development since 2022, when he recommended the village create its economic development commission.
In 2024, Wiberg hired Libby Popovic as Brookfield’s community development director alongside other key members of her department, which has been instrumental in Brookfield’s quest to acquire properties downtown like the Theater Building and near the Congress Park train station for redevelopment.
Wiberg also led the village’s initiatives related to redeveloping Ogden Avenue through the Energize Ogden plan, to adopt a new zoning code in October and to forge closer connections with officials at Brookfield Zoo Chicago. Wiberg also led Brookfield through its efforts to pass a referendum for a limiting tax rate increase that would have established a permanent funding source to sustain the village’s 25-year road maintenance program, but that referendum was rejected by 60% of voters on Nov. 3.
