EDWARDSVILLE/MITCHELL/PONTOON BEACH – With conversations about a possible sale of Special Service Area No. 1 to Illinois American Water, the Madison County Board heard from several residents, and Chairman Chris Slusser addressed “false information” surrounding the potential sale.
Illinois American Water has offered $35 million for SSA #1, which serves customers in the Mitchell and Pontoon Beach areas. During the Madison County Board’s regular meeting on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, Board members heard from three residents against the sale.
Resident Heather Groetecke has been an outspoken opponent of the sale. During the public comment portion of the May 20 meeting, she quoted Bible verses and encouraged the Board members to “protect what is not yours to give away.”
“Scripture speaks of watchmen, those called to stay alert, protect, and to warn when something of grave concern is before the people,” she said. “I ask you to be watchmen for the communities you represent. Listen not only to those in positions of influence, but to the people whose lives will be affected by this decision. This sewer system was built for the people, paid for by the people, and maintained for the benefit of the people. We are asking you to protect what has been entrusted to this community, and to think clearly before handing local control to a private corporation like Illinois American Water.”
Kathy Long followed Groetecke and argued that residents’ sewer bills will increase if the sale goes through. She compared the possible sale of SSA #1 with the proposed construction of data centers in the area, and she encouraged Board members to do more research.
“Our bills will be increased, and once again, we’ll be paying for a sewer system that we already paid for for many years. There is nothing good that will come for any of the residents,” she said. “I would like for all of you to go home and do some soul-searching.”
Kurt Prenzler, former County Board Chairman, has criticized the potential sale. He argued that customers of SSA #1 have “already paid” for the sewer system’s infrastructure through their sewer bills since the system’s creation in the 1970s, and he said they would have to “pay twice for the sewer system” if it is acquired by Illinois American Water.
He also noted that Granite City sold its sewer system to Illinois American Water. According to him, “monthly sewer bills are now three times, even three and a half times, higher than they were in December 2023.”
“It’s only an accident of history why the county has the legal title to the system,” he added.
County Board Chairman Chris Slusser addressed the potential sewer sale and explained how these conversations started.
“There’s been a lot of false information circulating about the potential sale of the sewer department, mainly by an individual who’s clearly putting his own political self-interest ahead of the best interests of the 5,200 customers,” Slusser said.
He said that a little over a year ago, a representative from Illinois American Water approached Slusser and County Administrator Dave Tanzyus about acquiring the sewer department. Slusser said the county has “the fiduciary responsibility to all the taxpayers of the county to at least listen and entertain” any offers.
Illinois American Water recently came forward with the $35 million offer and a contract. Slusser said this information is under legal review, which will be “an extensive, very thorough process.” Additionally, throughout the past year, Slusser was made aware that the county subsidizes SSA #1.
“We have been subsidizing, either through direct or indirect costs, the sewer department for its entire 50-year existence at varying levels throughout,” he said. “That is not the fault of the people who are the customers of the sewer department who utilize the sewer services, but it is an issue that we’ll be addressing going forward, so all the taxpayers of the county are not subsidizing one sewer department that does not serve the entire county.”
The county is also “analyzing what rates will look like” in the coming years. He shared that the goal is to provide long-term rate protection to the customers of SSA #1.
Eventually, this will be brought forward to the County Board for consideration. But he emphasized that they are “not in a hurry to rush anything through,” and they “will be very transparent through the entire process.”
“What I won’t do is spread false information or incomplete information to gin people up and prey on the fears and anxieties of the customers, especially those customers living on fixed incomes,” he said. “This sewer department in no way compares to the situation that Granite City residents face. That was a very distressed asset that needed a $300 million infrastructure investment. This is not a distressed asset. The two systems are apples and oranges, and anyone that continues to spread that information and compare the two, they’re just wrong. It’s either out of ignorance or dishonesty.”
