The Madison County Board elected board member Eric Foster (R-Granite City) to serve as the new Chairperson Pro Tem.
Board member Mike Walters (R-Godfrey) previously served as pro tem, but chose not to run again for the position.
Foster was nominated for the position by Walters. The nomination was seconded by Michael “Doc” Holliday (D-Alton). He received 18 votes. However, Foster will not seek re-election to the county board after losing to John Janek in the Republican primary in June.
Board member Terry Eaker (R-Bethalto) was also nominated for the pro tem position by Mick Madison (R-Bethalto) and seconded by Bobby Ross (R-St. Jacob). He received eight votes.
Following the vote, Walters recommended that the board member selected to take over the pro tem position after the elections receive a pay increase.
“The amount of hours you spend over and above being a board member is incredible,” he said.
The board also selected Stacey Pace to serve as the Vice Chairman Pro Tem. She was nominated by Walters.
An ordinance establishing increased oversight of Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler was passed on July 6 in a 19-6 vote and called for a new pro tem to be elected at the August meeting.
The ordinance was established after a bi-partisan group of board members filed a petition for a special board meeting to consider amending “personnel policies for County Board appointed officials and department heads and certain Madison County ordinances.”
The petition was signed by Foster, Walters, Eaker, Madison, Ross, Chris Hankins (D-Pontoon Beach), Chris Guy (R-Maryville), Denise Wiehardt (R-Granite City), Nick Petrillo (D-Granite City), Gussie Glasper (D-Madison), Stacey Pace (R-Troy), and James Goggin (R-Edwardsville).