Crown Point Mayor Pete Land announced his new appointment for chief of staff during the Wednesday, Aug. 17, Board of Public Works and Safety meeting.
Planning Administrator Anthony Schlueter will be the new chief of staff for the city of Crown Point following the departure of current Chief of Staff Greg Falkowski.
“As a Crown Point resident for 25 years, it has been a privilege to serve as the planning administrator and have a hand in the development in the city where I raise my family,” Schlueter said. “I look forward to working with Mayor Land and all the department heads to continue the progress and responsible growth the city has seen over the years.”
Schlueter joined the city of Crown Point in October 2015 as the planning administrator. He previously served on the city’s plan commission and redevelopment commission.
While at the helm of the planning department, Schlueter updated the city’s zoning and subdivision codes to industry standards; oversaw the update to the city’s comprehensive plan — guiding future growth and development; and assisted the plan commission with creating design guidelines for all business corridors within the city.
Before joining the city of Crown Point, Schlueter was self-employed as a local trader at the Chicago Board of Trade. He also worked at his father’s construction company as a laborer and construction manager.
Currently, Anthony serves as the executive secretary to the Plan Commission, the Board of Zoning Appeals, the Historic Preservation Commission and the Tree Board. He also is a member of the Alcohol and Tobacco Commission and the Downtown Beverage License Review Committee.
“The city’s leadership has always worked well together promoting a sense of team. I plan to continue that legacy by supporting our employees and helping provide quality city services to the residents of Crown Point,” Schlueter said.
The transition is a natural fit for Schlueter, Mayor Pete Land said.
“Anthony has been our planning administrator for nearly seven years. He has run the planning department well and been on the forefront of the new development coming to our great city,” Land said. “Anthony’s experience makes him the perfect fit for this role. As the new chief of staff, he will continue to be an invaluable asset to the city of Crown Point and our residents.”
Falkowski’s departure comes as he has accepted a new role with the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority as the chief operating officer.
He joined the City of Crown Point in July 2014 as the director of the planning and zoning department. In July 2015, Falkowski transitioned to serve as chief of staff alongside former Mayor David Uran and has held the position since.
“The most enjoyable part of working for the city of Crown Point was every employee, board member and council person had the best interests of the community in mind — they come in every day striving to make the community a better place to live, work, and play,” Falkowski said. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to work in the city and with each employee. Mayor Land has an excellent team behind him and will continue the positive momentum and progress in the city.”
Before serving with the city, Greg served in the United States Army as an imagery analyst. While enlisted, he earned an associate degree in intelligence operations. After the service, he attended Valparaiso University, where he played on the baseball team and earned a bachelor’s degree in geography with a concentration in building, planning and geographic information systems.
Following college, Greg served as the planning administrator for Lake County, Indiana, for one year and then became a member of Carpenters Local Union 1005, where he gained experience in carpentry and project management.
In the business community, Greg serves as a member of the Crown Point Advisory Council for the University of Saint Francis, NIPSCO Cap program, Crown Point Human Resources Economic Development Commission and the Lake County Economic Alliance.
During his tenure, Falkowski helped plan, design, secure funding for and oversee the construction of various legacy projects in the city, including the 109th Avenue Transportation & Safety Improvement Project; Bulldog Park; Legacy Fields at Center Ross Park; the Cal Ripken hitting barn and turf field improvements; the ongoing Sauerman Woods Park Drainage Improvement Project; and the Veterans Memorial Trail.
He also was instrumental in securing more than $10 million in matching grant funding through NIRPC for roadway safety and congestion mitigation projects; overseeing downtown pedestrian safety and parking improvement projects, as well as various road paving projects completed through the state of Indiana’s Community Crossing Matching Grant program, bringing back more than $5 million to the city from the Indiana Department of Transportation.
“When I took the helm of the mayor’s office two months ago, Greg was an immense help. His knowledge on development in and around Crown Point has proven invaluable during this transition period,” Mayor Land said. “He has served the city, its employees and residents well. I am saddened to see him go, but I support him and the decision he is making for himself and his family.”
