Democrats say ‘Open up Madison County’ plan aims to shift focus off Prenzler scandals
Madison County’s board chairman Kurt Prenzler says the time to start the planning of reopening of the county has come, as county Democrats question the committee’s true intentions.
On Tuesday, Prenzler said the county will start plotting its reopening with the formation of the “Opening up Madison County Again” committee, made up of business and community leaders. It will operate in line with President Donald Trump’s Opening up America Again and state guidelines, he said.
On its website, the White House proposes states or regions begin to open up if they’ve had a downward trajectory of coronavirus-like or influenza-like illnesses reported within a 14 day period, a reduction of cases or positive tests, that hospitals can treat patients without crisis care, and if “robust” testing programs are in place for at-risk healthcare workers.
“This committee will collect ideas on how to get our county moving again,” Prenzler said. “I’ve been hearing from many Madison County business people who are anxious to get back to work.”
There isn’t a strict timeline to when the county might start reopening, Prenzler said.
Madison County Democratic Party Chair Randy Harris said Prenzler’s committee is designed to divert attention away from the recent firing of County Administrator Doug Hulme and Information Technology Director Rob Dorman. Both were investigated by the Illinois Attorney General on accusations they spied on the emails of political opponents and offered a county job in exchange for a political endorsement.
The investigation was closed and no charges were filed, but Prenzler moved quickly to remove Hulme and Dorman from office while state lawmakers moved to develop new security rules.
Members of the Prenzler’s Open Madison County committee will include county board member Erica Harriss, who is a business owner, a representative from the agriculture sector, several church leaders and many business owners from throughout the county, Prenzler said.
Prenzler said Madison County and other small counties have been “chafed” by blanket restrictions.
“We’re not Chicago,” Prenzler said. “We believe that our business owners can responsibly open up in phases, while at the same time respecting the public’s health.”
Harris noted the committee’s lack of medical experts and called the committee a “craven” attempt to shift focus away for the recent scandals that have struck the Prenzler administration he likened to Watergate.
In a statement, Harris said it was “appalling” that the committee included no healthcare or medical experts.
“Prenzler didn’t bother to include anyone with public health expertise or anyone who represents workers who may be working in the establishments he seeks to reopen,” Harris said. “On the day when Madison County experienced its largest one-day increase in COVID-19 cases, Kurt Prenzler is focused only on shifting attention away from his corrupt administration by forming this committee.”
Prenzler said that the committee will “in no way” overstep county health guidelines and will follow County Health Department Administrator Toni Corona’s guidance.
“We’re staying in our lane, we are no way getting in the way of the health side here,” Prenzler said. “Everyone’s health and safety is important.”
Still, Harris said the committee needs health care or medical officials to do their jobs correctly.
“We all want to get back to life as usual, Democrats and Republicans alike want to get back to work, but Prenzler should immediately add health care experts and workers’ rights advocates to this committee and start putting the health of the residents of Madison County ahead of his own lust for further political power.”
Bob Daiber, D-Marine, who is running against Prenzler in the November election said he hadn’t heard about the committee but worried reopening the county any time soon could be “jumping the gun.”
“COVID-19 cases have continued to increase in Madison County,” he said. “Health and welfare of all citizens in this county are first and foremost before we begin jumping the gun.”
He said while the plight of small businesses who are struggling due to COVID-19 is very real, the safety of the public needs to come first.
Daiber also questioned why the county Coronavirus Czar Steve Adler, who Prenzler hired to direct the county’s fight against the virus, also wasn’t on the committee.
“Mr. Prenzler hired Steve Adler at taxpayers expense of $95,000 and I didn’t see him on the committee either,” he said.
This story was originally published April 22, 2020 at 12:00 PM.