Centreville mayor skips meeting with U.S. senator on city’s flooding, sewage issues
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U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth says she was ``somewhat surprised” that Centreville Mayor Marius “Mark” Jackson didn’t show up for her meeting with local officials Thursday to discuss ongoing flooding issues in the town, despite an invitation from her office.
Those local officials who did attend couldn’t answer some ``very basic’’ questions about the path ahead to fix the problems, according to Duckworth.
“They still need to do some basic things, and they could not answer my basic questions, which were what is your priority list of projects that need to be done, and have you made that priority list based on cost versus severity and urgency?” Duckworth said during an interview Friday. “They couldn’t give me an answer there.”
Duckworth on Thursday met with Centreville residents to discuss sewage and flooding problems that have plagued the northern part of town for decades. She told them she could help push for federal grants, but it is up to local officials to follow through once they receive the federal money.
After the meeting at Church of Grace in northern Centreville, she met privately with local officials at the Charles Coleman Community Center in Alorton.
Duckworth’s office would say why the meeting with officials was private.
Among the officials who attended were Centreville Township Supervisor Curtis McCall Sr., state Sen. Chris Belt, state Rep. LaToya Greenwood, LaMar Gentry, city planner for Alorton and Centreville, Lonnie Mosley, St. Clair County Board member, Alorton Mayor JoAnn Reed and representatives from Hurst-Roche Engineers, an engineering firm that works for Centreville.
But Jackson, the three-term mayor, didn’t attend the meeting. The reason for his absence was a mystery to Duckworth’s office.
The mayor did not respond to the Belleville News-Democrat’s request for comment. The BND has asked Jackson for comments about the flooding and sewage problems in north Centreville more than 15 times, but he has never responded.
The BND reached out to other local leaders to ask about Jackson’s absence, including McCall, Reed, Greenwood and Belt. Of the four, McCall was the only one who could be reached but was unwilling to comment on the absence
Duckworth said she remains optimistic that the flooding issues can be addressed because of Belt and Greenwood, who are working on securing millions of dollars from the state.
But she said she is worried about the money actually being used in areas of Centreville that need it most.
“I’m concerned that that money could be wasted or not used if there’s not an actual plan from the mayor and utilities,” she said. “Even the engineering firm couldn’t answer my basic questions about what are the key projects and what needs to come first.”
On Thursday, Greenwood said the private meeting with Duckworth was a “step in the right direction” but that fixing the problems won’t be easy because of years of decaying infrastructure.
At her meeting earlier with residents, Duckworth heard stories of inaction from the city and owners of the local sewage system, Commonfields of Cahokia, regarding the flooding issues.
Two residents have filed a lawsuit against the city of Centreville, Centreville Township, Jackson, McCall, Commonfields and its superintendent, Dennis Traiteur, to try to get the problems addressed. The officials’ response is due by July 30, after a 15-day extension was granted to the defendants.
Duckworth said it’s concerning that a U.S. senator has been more responsive to residents than their local leaders.
Duckworth told residents she can put pressure on the city, state and federal institutions, but local leaders need to step up if anything is going to change.
“They were understandably upset. I would be too if I had to live with an open sewer under my foundation for literally decades,” Duckworth said. “They feel like they are not being heard and when they try to reach out to municipal governments nobody answers them, nobody calls them back.”
This story was originally published July 18, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
