EDWARDSVILLE — A wide variety of financial issues, from emergency appropriations to software and vaccine contracts, take up much of the agenda for Wednesday’s Madison County Board meeting.
Also going before the board are a number of zoning issues, including one that generated a great deal of controversy; and several appointments, one of which has sparked heated discussions.
Financial issues include the approval of eight separate immediate emergency appropriations totaling just more than $500,000. They include grants to various county agencies including the Child Advocacy Center, Health Department, Public Defender’s Office, State’s Attorney’s Office and Sheriff’s Department.
Also set for approval are resolutions for the payment of $75,000 each in ARPA funds to East Alton and the St. Louis Regional Airport. East Alton will use the money for sewer projects, while the airport funding will go toward stormwater issues
The board will also consider an intergovernmental agreement between the county and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for the continued operation of the county’s household hazardous waste collection site at 249 N. Old St. Louis Road by Heritage Environmental Services.
In the past Madison County held two residential hazardous household waste collections each year, collecting between 13-15 tons of the materials.
In 2021 the county set up a permanent site with collections twice each month.
Some oppose Korte for post
The board will also consider several appointments, including former state representative candidate Jennifer Korte to fill the remaining term of Madison County Mental Health Board member the Rev. John Pawelchak, who has resigned.
There have been some objections to Korte’s appointment, centering around what has been described as highly partisan political rhetoric not suited for someone on that particular board.
Korte, a Maryville Republican, ran unsuccessfully against incumbent State Rep. Katie Stuart, a Collinsville Democrat.
The Governmental Relations Committee split along party lines with a 5-2 vote in recommending Korte, with Mike Babcock, Dalton Gray, Jason Palmero, Denise Wiehardt and Stacey Pace voting in favor and Alison Lamothe and Shawndell Williams voting no.
The board will also consider a number of zoning requests. One, for a proposed bar in Mitchell, was the subject of a great deal of opposition in committee.
The meeting is set for 5 p.m. in the Madison County Board Room No. 203 of the Administration Building, 157 N. Main St., Edwardsville.
Source: The Telegraph
