Kurt Prenzler, CPA

06/12/2026

Public comment by Bill Nichols before the CB finance committee meeting 6/11/26

There was a meeting on May 4th - Madison County Sewer Committee with over 100 people present.

On May 14th a meeting of the Madison County Finance Committee with approximately 25 opposing people present.

On May 20th a meeting of the Madison County Board with 40 plus people present.

On May 26th a meeting of the Village of Pontoon Board with 12 people present.

On June 1st a meeting of the Madison County Sewer Committee with 55 people present.

On June 8th a meeting at Chouteau Township townhall - with 75-80 people present. I didn't go to every meeting but these are the meeting I know about.

I want to address the board members and the finance committee about the sale of SSA #1 and the data centers. If the sale of SSA #1 sells for $35 million, where is the money going? It's not going in the pockets of the people. Why should we have to pay for something again that we have already paid for?

Many are on a fixed income, as my wife and I are on a fixed income. Moms and dads both have to work to support their families. Just today I have talked to several people in Granite City that have went thru the sale to Illinois American Water Co. and their water and sewer bills have doubled and tripled.

It is my understanding that it will come down to the board members of either 25 or 26 that will vote on this. I do not understand why you would vote this in. I hope this gets out to all the board members.

06/12/2026

Public comment by Heather Shafer-Groetecke before CB finance committee 6/11/26

Father God,

I come here today to plant seeds of concern, compassion, and wisdom in the hearts of those who make decisions that our communities must live with for generations. Lord, You go before us, beside us, and behind us. I pray that You continue to protect us from what we do not know and what we do not yet understand. Guide our leaders to act with integrity, humility, and genuine concern for the people they serve.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

I come before you today as a resident of Nameoki Township and Granite City, Illinois. I stand here not as an expert or politician, but as a concerned community member who cares deeply about what lies before the Madison County Board.

I understand this vote is not before you tonight, but I hope to plant seeds of concern and thoughtful consideration. Special Service Area #1 was built and paid for by the people it serves. Many residents feel that taking control of this asset away from the communities that built it would be wrong.

I ask those involved in this decision to place themselves in the shoes of the residents affected. How would you feel if an asset that generations of your community paid for was sold without your support? Too often in this world, decisions are made without considering the people who must live with the consequences.

What concerns me most is the timing of all of this.

Through Freedom of Information requests, we have obtained documents discussing the possible sale of utility infrastructure dating back more than a year. During that same general timeframe, other documents show discussions regarding land being considered for a major data center project. We also know that a project of that size cannot operate without substantial water and sewer infrastructure.

Because of that, residents have a right to ask reasonable questions.

Is it simply a coincidence that discussions involving utility infrastructure and discussions involving a major data center were taking place during the same period? Is it a coincidence that the very infrastructure needed for future development is now being discussed for sale?

I am not claiming to know every conversation that may have taken place. But common sense tells us that these events raise questions that deserve answers.

Special Service Area #1 is not failing. We have approximately $11 million in reserves. The people of this district have invested in and maintained this system for decades. Many of us do not want to see infrastructure expanded into farmland that has existed for generations in order to support a massive industrial development.

What concerns many residents is that if this system is sold to a billion-dollar utility company, local communities may lose their voice and their control over decisions that directly affect them.

Perhaps these events are unrelated. If they are, then transparency should be easy. The public deserves clear answers, open discussion, and honest communication.

At a recent meeting, a county board member expressed concern that putting this issue on a ballot could result in people outside the service area voting to sell it because it does not affect them. I choose to believe better of our neighbors. I do not believe most people would vote to take something that does not belong to them simply because they can.

So today, I ask every elected official and community leader to speak with the residents you represent. Ask them what they think. Listen to their concerns. Let their voices be heard before any decision is made.

Leadership is not simply about having the authority to make decisions. It is about having the wisdom to listen to the people who must live with those decisions.

Please put yourselves in our shoes. Consider what you would want if this were your community, your infrastructure, and your future.

06/11/2026

Reminder: 4pm, Thursday, June 11 finance committee of the county board, County Board room 203, County Admin Building, 157 N Main St - right across the plaza from the courthouse. Remember - the customers of SSA #1 has paid for everything in the SSA #1 sanitary sewer district - but - by an accident of history - the county has the legal title - and Illinois American Water Co has offered the county (not you) $35 million to buy it.
Show up to oppose this or - as they used to say at weddings - forever hold your peace - and get ready for your sewer bills to triple.

06/06/2026

Please call / text / email county board members.
Please be polite.
Talking points:
- If the county sells SSA #1 and pockets the money, this would be theft, because the 5,500 customers of SSA #1 have paid for every pipe, pump, pump station and all costs of operation since the 1970s. SSA #1 has no debt and $11 million in the bank and can reimburse the county for any misc. expenses.
- Local control is better than selling to Illinois American – which tripled sewer fees to residents of Granite City after the city sold its sewer system.
- Tell county board members if you are on a fixed income - and simply can't afford what has happened to people in Granite City.
- Lack of transparency. County Board Chairman has been working with Illinois American for more than 15 months.

These county board members have promised to vote AGAINST selling SSA #1.
Thank them, and ask them to keep their promise.

7 Linda Ogden (R – Godfrey) [email protected]
10 Shawndell Wilson (D – Granite City) 618-250-5364, [email protected]
16 Robert “Bob” Meyer (R – Granite City) 618-444-8040, [email protected]
19 Nick Petrillo (D – Granite City) 618-779-1164, [email protected]
20 Denise Wiehardt (R – Granite City) 618-550-0099, [email protected]
21 John Janek (R – Granite City) 618-779-2970, [email protected]
22 Linda Wolfe (R – Collinsville) 618-974-6681, [email protected]
26 Jason Palmero (R – Glen Carbon) 618-954-1653, [email protected]


These county board members have not made a decision.
Please call / email them. Be polite. Ask them to vote NO.

1 Fred Michael (R – Highland) 618-830-0306, [email protected]
2 Ron Simpson (R – Troy) 618-973-2506, [email protected]
3 Frank Dickerson (R-Worden) 618-540-4673, [email protected]
4 Bobby Ross (R – St. Jacob) 618-980-1516, [email protected]
5 Mick Madison (R – Bethalto) 618-792-1162, [email protected]
6 Val Doucleff (R – Godfrey) 618-920-9610, [email protected]
8 Michael “Doc” Holiday (D – Alton) 618-465-6974, [email protected]
9 Bill Stoutenborough (D – Alton) 618-465-5404, [email protected]
11 Dalton Gray (R – Troy) 618-978-5263, [email protected]
12 Don McMaster (R – East Alton) 618-806-0763, [email protected]
13 Bryan Kincheloe (R – East Alton) 618-876-9004, [email protected]
14 Chrissy Wiley (R – Bethalto) 618-917-7750, [email protected]
15 Terry Eaker (R – Bethalto) 618-377-1188, [email protected]
17 Victor Valentine, Jr. (D – Edwardsville) 618-541-5975, [email protected]
18 Alison LaMotte (D – Edwardsville) 618-334-3207, [email protected]
23 Paul Nicolussi (R – Collinsville) 618-593-4426, [email protected]
24 Fred Schulte (R – Edwardsville) 618-304-3064, [email protected]
25 Chris Guy (R – Maryville) 618-800-6520, [email protected]
Chris Guy has said he will abstain from voting on the sale to Illinois American Water Co.
Chris Guy is an employee of Illinois American Water Co. [email protected]
He is on the same “Solutions for Communities” team with Brock Teichmiller, who has been communicating with Madison County Board Chairman Chris Slusser for more than 15 months.

Chris Slusser, County Chairman of the Board, 618-830-4980, 618-296-4341, [email protected]

06/05/2026

Is County Board Chairman Chris Slusser planning to bypass the sewer and finance committees and go directly to the county board to sell the SSA #1 sanitary sewer system?

Yesterday I spoke with an "insider" who shared his opinion of what Chris Slusser is planning to do regarding the proposed sale of Special Service Area #1 sanitary sewer system.

My question: "People - including county board members - are really confused. Is it Chris Slusser's plan to skip the sewer committee, and go straight to the finance committee to get approval to sell SSA #1, and then the county board?"

Insider: "No. It's my understanding that he plans to skip both the sewer committee and the finance committee, call an Executive Committee meeting for 4pm Wednesday, get a quick approval, and then go straight to the 5pm County Board for another quick approval."

That's not the way it typically works - but this plan - if true - would be consistent with Slusser's backroom dealings with Illinois American Water Co.

Typically, any decision regarding a county department first goes through the specific county board committee - e.g. health, transportation - then - if it involves money - the item must go through the finance committee - then finally to the county board.

So - if money is involved - 3 votes.

That's why county board members are confused. Is Slusser really planning to "skip" the sewer committee - AND the finance committee - on a $35 million sale of the SSA #1 sewer system?

Lack of Transparency

Emails discovered through the FOIA process reveal that Chris Slusser has been working with Illinois American Water Co. for more than 15 months.

More than a year ago Illinois American Water Co emailed Slusser - on May 1, 2025 - that their offer was 75 percent complete.

The sewer committee was just told about Illinois American's $35 million offer at the sewer committee meeting on April 6, 2026.

Despite several FOIA requests, this $35 million offer has not been made public.

The 5,500 customers - households and businesses - of SSA #1 have NOT been notified about the offer that Illinois American Water has made.

It would be easy for the county to send a letter to all customers of SSA #1 notifying them that Illinois American Water Co. has made an offer to buy the system - and to ask for their input.

Keep in mind that the customers of SSA #1 - for the past 50 years - have paid for all assets - pumps, pipes, trucks, pump stations, etc. - of SSA #1 - plus the $11 million that SSA #1 has in the bank - with no debt.

Moratorium

Sometimes normal people see things the clearest. Yesterday a woman who is a customer of SSA #1 told me this:

"What we need a moratorium. Slow down! The vast majority of customers of SSA #1 have no idea what's going on."

Can anyone just waltz in with a $35 million check?

Let's say that an employee of the county highway department tells his Uncle Bob that the highway department is thinking of selling an old dump truck.

Uncle Bob just can't walk into the highway department with a $10,000 cashier's check and buy that old truck.

That's not how it works.

State law requires that if a county wants to sell a significant asset, it must advertise in a newspaper of general circulation, then hold an auction or allow people to submit sealed bids - to be opened in a public meeting. The idea is to let people know what's going on, give people an equal opportunity to purchase.

So what's happening here?

"Hey, Madison County has legal title to a sanitary sewer system serving 5,500 customers. The customers have paid for all the assets, but the county could sell it and pocket the money."

Illinois American Water Co. can't just waltz into the county administration building with a $35 million check.

There a number of other companies, e.g. Aqua Illinois, Veolia North American, that are in this business.

The main point: it's not fair

The main point is that selling SSA #1 is just not right. Since the 1970s the customers have paid for all the assets.

If SSA #1 is sold - and the county pockets $35 million - the customers of SSA #1 will have to pay $35 million plus profit plus the normal operating costs of running the sewer system.

The people who live in SSA #1 have heard from their friends and relatives who live in Granite City what happens: triple the monthly sewer fee.

05/31/2026

Reminder - please attend the 4pm, Monday, June 1 meeting of the county board sewer committee at the Special Service Area #1 building at 301 E. Chain of Rocks Road, Mitchell.

Purpose - to oppose the proposal for the county to sell the sanitary sewer system to Illinois American Water - which could TRIPLE your sewer bills - like what happened to the residents of Granite City.

05/27/2026

Madison County Seeking To Sell Special Service Area #1 – A Sanitary Sewer System –
By John Kraft & Kirk Allen
On May 23, 2026
Madison County (ECWd) –

Madison County (ECWd) – Letter to the Editor (This letter to the editor is in response to a letter written several days ago by County Board Chairman Chris Slusser.) Many people were surprised…

05/20/2026

Please remember it’s the COUNTY BOARD that will make the decision whether or not to sell Special Service Area #1 to the Illinois American Water Co.

Please show up at tonight’s county board meeting - or if you can’t do that - contact county board members. Don’t depend on other people to do it. If you don’t do it - your sewer bills could triple - like what happened to the people in Granite City.

05/19/2026

Nameoki Township Board passed a resolution opposing the sale of the Special Service Area #1 to Illinois American Water Co. The resolution is posted on the Nameoki Township website.

05/19/2026

Chouteau Township Board resolution opposing the sale of Special Service Area #1 to Illinois American Water Co.