Mr. Chris Slusser, Madison County Board Chairman,
We Have Questions!
GraniteCityGossip.com March 26, 2026
Illinois American Water Is Presenting a Final Offer for SSA #1 — And We’re Hearing the Vote Is Being Rushed Through as Early as April.
Madison County residents who pay sewer bills to Special Service Area #1 deserve honesty, transparency, and a seat at the table. Instead, what we’re getting is silence, and now, suddenly, a fast‑tracked vote to sell our publicly owned sewer system to Illinois American Water.
Residents are being told this deal is “all but finalized.”
We’re being told the vote could happen within weeks.
We’re being told this is a “quick money maker” for the county.
What we’re not being told is why the public was kept in the dark until the eleventh hour — or why county leadership is willing to repeat the exact same mistake that devastated Granite City families.
We Watched Granite City’s Bills Double, Triple, and Worse — And You Did Too, Mr. Chairman!
When Granite City sold its wastewater treatment plant, residents had no protections or stability. Instead, many saw their bills explode overnight.
Some doubled.
Some tripled.
Some went even higher.
Families on fixed incomes were pushed to the brink. Seniors and disabled residents, the very people who can least absorb sudden increases were hit the hardest. And once the system was sold, the city lost all control over rates. Illinois American Water could raise them again and again, and residents had no choice but to pay.
Madison County officials watched this unfold.
They know exactly what happened.
They know exactly what will happen here.
Yet they are preparing to vote anyway.
Why Were These Negotiations Kept Quiet?
Residents have a right to know:
When did negotiations begin?
Why was there no community meeting, no notice, no outreach?
When exactly were you planning to tell the people who will be forced to pay the consequences?
This is a public utility.
This is a public asset.
This is a public decision.
And the public has been shut out.
Selling Is Not the Only Option — It Is the Worst Option
County leadership may be pointing to “expensive upgrades” as justification for selling.
But that argument ignores the reality:
✔️ Long‑term, low‑interest infrastructure loans exist.
Many come with partial forgiveness, meaning the county would not even have to repay the full amount.
✔️ Major state and federal grants are available.
Communities across Illinois use them every year to upgrade water and sewer systems without selling them off.
✔️ Repayment terms can stretch across decades.
This keeps rates stable and affordable.
So why is the county acting like selling is the only path forward?
Why choose the one option that guarantees sky‑rocketing rates, loss of control, and financial hardship for thousands of residents?
Where Will the Money Go? What Is It Earmarked For?
If the county is going to vote to sell SSA #1, the public deserves to know:
What are the proceeds being used for?
What long‑term plan justifies giving up a stable public utility?
Why prioritize a one‑time cash infusion over decades of resident protection?
Why choose a path that shifts the financial burden onto families who are already stretched thin?
These are not small questions.
These are not optional questions.
These are questions that demand answers before any vote is taken.
This Vote Will Not Be Forgotten.
If the Madison County Board votes to sell SSA #1, they are knowingly choosing:
Higher bills!
Loss of local control!
Financial strain on seniors, disabled residents, and working families!
A repeat of Granite City’s disaster!
A future where a private corporation dictates what residents pay.
Residents will remember who protected them — and who didn’t!
This is not just another agenda item.
This is a defining moment for Madison County leadership.
And the public is watching!
Here is the link to the Madison County Board meeting minutes and agenda packets.
We have yet to find a single mention on this topic in the research we have done, about this sale.
Welcome to Madison County, IL