During the May 1, 2023, meeting of the newly elected Sangamon Valley Public Water District board meeting, we discussed during public comment the issue of a lame-duck contract allegedly entered into between the outgoing appointed board and Veolia for the purpose of managing and operating the water district properties.
We discussed, from the Public Water District Act:
- the fact a water district does not possess the statutory authority to contract those functions away to a private company
- the fact the alleged contract was not properly placed on the meeting agenda for any action
- the fact the alleged “general manager” of the district is required to devote all of his time “exclusively“ to the affairs of the district, not to the company who employs him or her (See Section 7)
- the fact that Violia, who was apparently contracted to act as the general manager cannot devote their time “exclusively” to the affairs of the district, as they are a private company with other contracts to manage
- the fact the statute does not permit contracting with a general manager, they can only appoint one
- the fact any general manager may be terminated at any meeting of board with a majority vote (regardless of any alleged contract)
- the fact that an outgoing board cannot “bind the hands” of an incoming board, which also makes this alleged 5-year contract invalid
- we suggested the new board find a new attorney, and no longer use the services of Attorney Ed Flynn.
When the suggestion of a new attorney was mentioned, Flynn told me and the board that he had prevailed against us, the Edgar County Watchdogs, See approximately the 18:38 mark in the attached video, and continued when questioned about his misleading statement.
ECWd has had no court cases anywhere in which Flynn was involved.
This story was originally published by Edgar County Watchdogs. Read the original HERE.
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