The Honorable Bruce Rauner
Governor of Illinois
207 State House
Springfield, IL 62706
Dear Governor Rauner,
I am writing to urge you to veto Senate Bill 2368 sponsored by Senator Bill Haine and Representative Jay Hoffman. Senate Bill 2368 is purely political and if this bill were to become law, it would be detrimental to Metro East taxpayers – which is why I voted against this bill in the House.
Senate Bill 2368 was introduced as a way for Metro East Democrats to take back control of the Metro East Sanitary District (MESD), a board they had control of since the Act was created in 1974. In fact, for thirteen of the last fifteen years, MESD was operating under a deficit. It was drowning in debt for years while the politically connected failed to make the necessary repairs to adequately provide flood control in the sanitary district. Today, MESD is operating at a surplus and now can afford to make repairs due to the fact that twenty four patronage jobs were cut from their budget when new leadership took over in 2017.
Under current law, the Metro-East Sanitary District Board (MESD) is comprised of five members. Three members appointed by Republican Madison County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler and two members appointed by Democrat St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern.
If signed into law, Senate Bill 2368 would amend the Metro-East Sanitary District Act of 1974 to eliminate one of Madison County’s three appointments to MESD by replacing one of Madison County’s appointments with the Mayor of Granite City. This bill would severely weaken Madison County’s overall representation on the MESD board and it would also create a conflict of interest for the Mayor of Granite City, since the Mayor currently serves on the Granite City Wastewater Treatment Board.
Just because one party controlled MESD for 44 years and they lost control as a result of the 2016 election, it doesn’t mean they should be able to change the law to their own benefit. Again, I ask you to veto Senate Bill 2368.
If you would like to discuss my opposition to this bill, please contact my office at 618-651-0405.
Sincerely,
Charlie Meier
State Representative, 108th District