The Jackson County Board in its July 21 meeting passed a resolution opposing the privatization of water utilities within its county lines.  

The resolution comes in response to a letter from local legislators that was mass-emailed to southern Illinois water district managers and engineers inviting them to attend a closed-door June 16 meeting to discuss the potential “cross-connection” of area water districts. The letter, signed by Illinois State Sen. Paul Jacobs, Illinois Rep. Patrick Windhorst, U.S. Rep. Mike Bost and former Illinois Sen. Dale Fowler made several rounds on social media in the days after it was sent. 

The meeting, since canceled after public backlash, created speculation that Illinois American Water, a private water entity, could be interested in acquiring southern Illinois water districts, turning them from public to private utilities. 

Jacobs told the Daily Egyptian in prior interviews that the meeting aimed to bring water district engineers, managers and experts – like those at Illinois Water – together to help solve what he described as a water infrastructure “crisis” in southern Illinois. 

Although Illinois American Water was invited to the canceled meeting, Jacobs never mentioned the private entity in his letter. Illinois American Water manages utilities in Belleville, Cairo, East St. Louis, Granite City and Hardin County.

Illinois State Rep. Scott Doody, who represents Illinois’ 118th House District, told the DE that “American Water is not welcome in the 118th” and that if any sale of a public utility were to take place, that he would insure there was a public meeting beforehand. 

Written by board member Daniel Presley, the Jackson County resolution declares that the 10 water districts in Jackson County are opposed to the privatization of public water utilities. 

The resolution also establishes that each water district should provide written notice upon the scheduling of a public hearing or a governing board meeting in which acquisition of the public utility would be discussed. 

“This is what we believe: we would like to oppose this privatization,” Presley said. 

Not every board member agreed the resolution would have an impact. 

“I need a motion to object this resolution because we can’t hold those guys accountable to let us know (about the proposed acquisition of water utilities),” Tonya Knust, the District 1 County Board member, said. 

“The resolution does have weight that we’re putting out there that we do not want to have privatized water and we want to keep our water public,” Tamiko Mueller, the District 3 Jackson County Board representative, said. 

Mueller also made a motion to accompany the resolution with a letter that details how correspondence would take place should members of the Jackson County Board become aware of any aim to sell public water utilities. 

Mueller, a Democrat, is running against Jacobs, a Republican, for the 59th Senate District seat.

When Jackson County Administrator Jennifer Houston was asked how many people it would take to administer this letter, she said that the letter held no weight.

“You ask a lot of us, and it will take me a while to draft a letter and to get it approved and to send it out, and you’re not requiring them to respond to you or to do anything, so it’s just you’re asking me to send a letter. I will do it because it’s my job,” Houston said. 

“There’s no response required, you can’t force them to do anything, so you’re asking me to do busy work,” she said. 

Every Jackson County Board Representative voted in favor of the resolution, except Knust. 

Honoring the life of John Rendleman

The Jackson County Board unanimously passed a resolution honoring the life, service and memory of John Rendleman, who served on the board for 18 years and was chairman from 2012 to 2018. As his family accepted the printed resolution, tears filled many eyes. 

Rendleman died in his home on June 30 at the age of 67. 

At the closing of the board meeting, Mueller suggested a future consideration honoring Rendleman’s life and servitude. 

“John was a mentor to me, a dear friend, and like I said that’s how I started my career with the county board because of his appointment,” Mueller said.

“I was hoping we could consider and think about creating a John S. Rendleman community service award for those who have served the community for truth, justice and social equality because he really fought for those that were in need.” 

Staff Reporter Kristin Borchers can be reached at [email protected]

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