An interview with Cook County's new highway engineer

Cook County has a new Highway Engineer. Her name is Krysten Foster and she stopped by WTIP recently for her first public interview since being assigned to the post on Feb. 13.

It was on that date County Administrator Jeff Cadwell brought a request before the commissioners to approve a joint agreement with Lake County to name Foster as the highway engineer for both Lake and Cook counties.

Under the agreement, Foster will work at least two days per week in Cook County, as well as being available for local highway staff by phone, text or email at nearly all times.

The proposed two-year contract has a first-year expense of $112,000. The county has budgeted approximately $160,000 for wages, benefits and professional development for a highway engineer. Before the board voted to approve the motion, Cadwell praised Foster’s work ethic and level of professionalism and made a recommendation to the county board to approve the contract. The commissioners approved to contract on a unanimous vote.

WTIP’s Joe Friedrichs spoke with Foster about her expectations for the local highway department and the path that led her to Cook County.