EDWARDSVILLE — Six public speakers condemned Madison County Chairman Chris Slusser during a packed Madison County Board meeting in the Nelson Hagnauer County Board Room in Edwardsville after Slusser posted a Facebook comment Wednesday, July 29, 2026, suggesting Dr. Anthony Fauci needed a “public hanging.”
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The comment was posted from Slusser’s personal account on an original Facebook post by Hartford resident Jim Barzee, who criticized Fauci and referenced him being silent 111 times during U.S. Senate questioning about the COVID-19 pandemic.
Slusser has since made a statement about what he meant. It can be found here: https://www.riverbender.com/news/details/slusser-says-fauci-comment-was-not-to-be-taken-literally-95564.cfm?
All six public speakers condemned Slusser’s comment. During the speeches, the crowd had to be told to quiet down. In one instance, after a speaker finished, the crowd continued clapping, and Slusser had to regain order. Members of the crowd held up signs throughout the board meeting.
The board also honored Parker Owens of Edwardsville High School, who won the IHSA State Boys Pole Vault final.
Several appointments were passed, including David Kuehnel for reappointment to the Wood River Drainage & Levee District for a three-year term expiring Sept. 1, 2029.
David Schwind for reappointment to the Madison County Flood Prevention District for a three-year term expiring June 18, 2029; and Frank Dunn for reappointment to the Glen Carbon Fire Protection District for a three-year term expiring May 1, 2029.
Appointments to the Eastern Madison County Ambulance Emergency Services District also passed for Ken Klostermann, Rolly Walker, Randy Leitschuh and Chris Tolbert. The board unanimously passed six zoning approvals.
Resolution Z26-0064, the petition of Gavin Spurgeon, owner of record, requested a special use permit to continue placement of a mobile home on site for the occupancy of Gavin Spurgeon and Savannah Belcher for a period not to exceed five years. The property is in an “R-3” Single-Family Residential District in Wood River Township at 106 Virginia Ave. in Cottage Hills.
Resolution Z26-0070, the petition of Chad Mattea, applicant on behalf of Anne Mordis, owner of record, requested a zoning map amendment to rezone five tracts of land totaling approximately 1.89 acres from “B-1” Limited Business District and “R-4” Single-Family Residential District to “B-4” Wholesale Business District. The petition also requested a special use permit to operate an eating and drinking establishment in the existing building on site in Nameoki Township at 100 Joe St. in Collinsville.
Resolution Z26-0075, the petition of Lisa Scoggins, owner of record with Kerry Scoggins, requested a variance to construct an attached garage addition to the existing dwelling that would be 3 feet from the side, east, property line instead of the required 10 feet. The property is in an “R-3” Single-Family Residential District in Wood River Township at 448 Valleyview Drive in East Alton.
Resolution Z26-0076, the petition of Jeff and Mary Gibson, applicants on behalf of James and Elaine Holmes, owners of record, requested a special use permit to keep two goats and six chickens on site. The property is in an “R-3” Single-Family Residential District in Chouteau Township at 4917 Mueller Ave. in Granite City.
The board also passed demolition resolutions for 5102 Rapp Road in Granite City and 6141 Old Alton Road in Granite City.
