By Mike Koziatek
News-Democrat
While Gov. Bruce Rauner considers legislation that would allow for the dissolution of Belleville Township, the board of trustees on Tuesday accepted the resignation of Trustee Joyce Laux.
Laux said in an email that she is resigning for health reasons.
“It is with a heavy heart that I submit my resignation as senior township trustee because of recent health reasons,” Laux said in her email. “I want to thank the residents of Belleville Township for voting me into office. It has been a pleasure serving the public for the past seven years.”
Laux did not attend the board of trustees meeting Tuesday afternoon and could not be reached for further comment.
Township Supervisor Dennis Korte and City Clerk Dallas Cook, who also serves as clerk for the township, said they appreciated Laux’s service to the board.
Korte said the board will appoint a new board member but a candidate has not yet been announced.
“With all this going on with the governor, we don’t even know if we’ll be here,” Korte said when asked about a new board member being named to replace Laux.
End in sight?
Township officials are still waiting to hear from Rauner on whether he will sign legislation that would allow the township to dissolve.
Earlier this year, the House and Senate passed House Bill 3693 that would allow the township board to pass an ordinance to dissolve the township. State Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, sponsored the bill. Rep. Dwight Kay, R-Glen Carbon, later joined as a co-sponsor to give the bill bipartisan support.
“The governor is supportive of local government consolidation and reform, because it helps give taxpayers a better value for their money, and the governor will carefully consider any legislation that crosses his desk,” Rauner spokeswoman Catherine Kelly said in a statement.
The legislation was sent to Rauner on June 29.
The township is tasked with providing general assistance to needy individuals in Belleville, but critics of the system say the township spends too much on overhead and people could be helped more efficiently if the township was dissolved. The township has the same borders as the city of Belleville.
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