Dunstan seeking replacement candidate for levee board

Madison County Board Chairman Alan Dunstan said he is talking to a number of elected officials in an effort to find a replacement for Andy Economy, who resigned from the levee board under pressure for failing to file complete economic-interest statements.

The announcement of a new member to the five-member Metro East Sanitary District board is likely to be made at the next County Board meeting, on Dec. 16. The job pays $15,000 a year.

But it is unlikely that Dunstan will talk to Helen Hawkins, an outspoken member of the County Board from Granite City, where she has served since 2002 and is a fellow Democrat, even though Hawkins has received a letter of recommendation from state Sen. Bill Haine, D-Alton.

“Helen has a long history of public service on the County Board and her knowledge of American Bottoms and surface-water flooding as well as maintenance issue with the levees all indicate a depth of experience and which would be helpful to the maintenance of these levees over the years,” Haine wrote.

Hawkins said she has also received the endorsement of U.S. Rep. John Shimkus, R-Collinsville.

Dunstan said he has received letters of recommendation endorsing several other candidates and stressed that his appointment must be “balanced,” meaning that certain areas of the Madison County portion of the district should be represented. Referring to Nameoki Township, where Hawkins resides, Dunstan said William Hanfelder, a Republican, is already on the board and lives in Nameoki Township.

While he praised Hawkins’ tenure on the County Board, Dunstan said it is unlikely that he will appoint another person from Nameoki Township.

“You have to balance it out,” Dunstan said.

Dunstan said he has spoken to the following elected officials about recommending someone for the board: Granite City Mayor Ed Hagnauer, Madison Mayor John Hamm and Pontoon Beach Mayor Mike Pagano. He said he plans to talk with Venice Mayor Tyrone Echols.

Hawkins said, “Balance has nothing really to do with it. He doesn’t want me because I’m too controversial. I’m too outspoken. But I know flooding and that’s what the position is about.”

Economy, who was appointed to the levee board in 1998, resigned Nov. 18, hours ahead of a proposed County Board resolution pushed by Dunstan asking for his ouster. The News-Democrat had reported that Economy received more than $30,000 worth of business to his shop — Andy’s Auto Body & Towing — and did not list the payments on a required county economic-interest statement. Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Gibbons has asked that a special prosecutor review the levee district’s payments to Economy.

In a more recent article, the BND reported that Economy voted a dozen times to pay himself for more than $44,000 in repair work done by his shop on levee board vehicles, and that he prepared several of the job estimates. He has said he didn’t remember voting to pay himself and prepared estimates only to repair hail damage when the board could not get outside adjusters to do this work.

Economy said Wednesday that he intends to submit a letter of resignation as a member of the board of America’s Central Port in Granite City, an unpaid position. Members of this board are selected by the governor.

“I think so,” Economy said when asked whether he will submit a letter of resignation. “I’m getting ready to, but I haven’t yet.” He declined further comment.

Public records show that Economy’s auto body and towing business received about $4,400 of repair work from the port board that was not reported on Economy’s economic interests statements as required by the state.

This story was originally published December 2, 2015 at 9:41 AM with the headline "Dunstan seeking replacement candidate for levee board."