BLOOMINGTON - John Zeunik will retire as McLean County administrator next year. Zeunik announced Tuesday during the McLean County Board meeting that he will take early retirement. Zeunik's last day will be May 22, 2009.

Zeunik, 58, has served as county administrator since 1988.

The county is offering an early retirement package for its employees this year, and Zeunik said he wants to get back to the classroom.

Zeunik taught government and history classes at a Chicago high school for four years while he was studying for his master's degree and previously taught a class at Eureka College.

"I have always planned to retire from the public sector by 60 so I could return to teaching," Zeunik said.

Zeunik does not know where he will teach once he leaves McLean County but said he hopes he will find a job in the next six months.

His annual salary is $139,488.

How Zeunik will be replaced is still undetermined, said County Board Chairman Matt Sorensen.

Next month the board will reorganize to seat new board members, and Sorensen said he is unsure if he will be re-elected chairman. However, Sorensen said he would like to the county take its time in finding a replacement.

Sorensen said current Assistant County Administrator Terry Lindberg, a former Peoria County administrator, could be promoted. A national search could be conducted after Lindberg retires in two or three years.

"I would like for us to take our time and make sure we are not limiting our perspective on what a county administrator is," Sorensen said.

Sorensen added that only one member of the County Board has served since before Zeunik was hired.

"I think we all have a perspective that if you look up 'county administrator' in the dictionary you will find John Zeunik's picture," Sorensen said. "We have great people already working for us, so why not take our time and work with another administrator before we conduct a search?"

The structure of county administration is unusual because a county administrator runs the day-to-day operations and carries out County Board policies but has no control over elected officials who run their own departments, Zeunik said.

About 24 of the state's 102 counties have a county administrator form of government.

"I like to think of it as being a point guard on a basketball team," Zeunik said. "It's my job to get everyone playing together and moving forward.

"Fortunately, in McLean County we've had a history of everyone working together," he added.

Former County Board Chairwoman Nancy Froelich said Zeunik's retirement is a big loss for the county. Froelich was chairwoman when Zeunik was hired.

"What stands out about John is his organizational skills, his leadership, his expertise, and his honesty and integrity," Froelich said. "John is the most honest person I know."