Several Madison County Board members have petitioned for a special meeting to amend personnel policies and Madison County ordinances in order to transfer authority from Chairman Kurt Prenzler, arguing that they have “lost confidence” in his ability to “advance a fiscally responsible future for the county.”
“It is the opinion of the County Board that the chairman has exhibited chronically inept management, lack of communication or research on important issues relating to lowing (sic) property taxes, lack of attention to his job which decreases the quality of services paid for by taxpayers, and multiple disastrous personnel decisions which have cost the county millions of dollars in legal costs and settlements,” the proposed ordinance states.
The bi-partisan petition was signed by board members Eric Foster (R), Chris Hankins (D), Chris Guy (R), Denise Wiehardt (R), Nick Petrillo (D), Gussie Glasper (D), Mike Walters (R), Bobby Ross (R), Stacey Pace (R), James Goggin (R), Mick Madison (R) and Terry Eaker (R).
Specifically, they seek approval of an ordinance to amend “personnel policies for County Board appointed officials and department heads and certain Madison County ordinances.”
“The County Board believes now is an appropriate time to modify certain Madison County ordinances and policies to ensure county government is best able to serve the people and taxpayers of Madison County in a fiscally responsible and professional manner,” the ordinance states.
The special meeting will be held on Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the Nelson “Nellie” Hagnauer County Board room at the Administration Building in Edwardsville.
In a press release responding to the petition, Prenzler claims the modifications are proposed in retaliation for his endorsing Republican County Board candidates running against incumbents in the June 28 primary election.
In District 7, candidate Michael Turner beat incumbent Ray Wesley with 68 percent of the votes; in District 21, candidate John Janek beat incumbent Foster with 53 percent of the votes; and in District 24, candidate Skip Schmidt beat Goggin with 51 percent of the votes.
“What is leadership in our form of government? Leadership is not reacting to election results, but accepting the will of the people,” Prenzler wrote.
“More than 70,000 Madison County citizens chose me over my pro-tax opponent precisely because I’m pro-taxpayer. And I’m not going to change my position after the election just because I have opposition.
“I will not back down to those who want to change our county’s form of government without a referendum - back to the good ole days - when one board member was elected by other board members - to divvy up the spoils. To back down would disenfranchise the 70,000 voters who elected me,” he continued.
However, the ordinance states that modifications are being sought as Prenzler engages in inappropriate communication with former Madison County employees.
“The Chairman, even while delegated significant authority by the county board, continues to have improper communications with multiple employees terminated by the county board while these terminated employees are in continual active litigation against the county board,” the ordinance states.
The proposal does not specify which employees Prenzler is allegedly improperly communicating with, but it could be referencing former Madison County Administrator Doug Hulme.
Hulme ran against incumbent Chris Slusser for county Treasurer and lost by a margin of 68-32. During his campaign, Hulme claimed to be supported by Prenzler. Hulme and former IT Director Rob Dorman sued the county after they were terminated by a 26-1 vote by the County Board. They were investigated for alleged public corruption, but charges were never filed.
The ordinance goes on to state that if the amended policies are passed by the County Board, all of the new changes implemented will expire, or “sunset,” on Dec. 1, 2024, unless the date is eliminated or changed by the County Board.