Ex-DuPage auditor to be named to key water panel post

Now that the reconstituted DuPage County Water Commission is in place, panel members are wasting no time trying to reform the troubled agency.

The revamped water panel is expected to vote Thursday during its inaugural meeting to name retired DuPage Auditor Jim Rasins the commission's treasurer, commission Chairman Jim Zay said. A new general manager also could be hired as soon as next month.

“A lot of these new people (on the water commission) are going to be kind of thrown into the deep end because we've got to get moving quickly on some things,” Zay said.

Eight new commissioners have been named to the 13-member water panel, which oversees the sale and delivery of Lake Michigan drinking water to more than two dozen communities. The appointments of David Russo of Winfield and Christopher Janc of Elmhurst were approved Tuesday by the county board.

“As promised, the new board members are experienced business leaders who will apply private sector principles to this troubled agency,” said county board Chairman Dan Cronin, who personally appointed Zay, Russo, Janc and four other water commissioners. “They share a collective background in finance, engineering and accounting that will help them make tough decisions necessary to regain the commission's financial footing.”

The overhaul of the water commission board was required because of a state law approved after the commission accidentally spent its $69 million reserve fund through poor accounting practices and lackadaisical financial oversight.

While the former water commission did a search after the previous treasurer and general manager resigned, Zay said the final vote to fill those spots was delayed until the new commission was in place.

As a result, there already are three finalists to replace Bob Martin, the former general manager who resigned last March. Zay said the new commission will interview those individuals before making a decision.

“If they like one of the three, we'll have a decision, hopefully, in February sometime,” Zay said. “If they don't like either of the three, we'll start over again.”

When it comes to Rasins, Zay said he believes the commission has found its next treasurer. Rasins, who served as DuPage auditor from 2000 to 2008, spent more than 33 years with the county.

“Jim brings a good background in auditing,” Zay said. “I have known Jim for years. Jim's always been straightforward. He tells you how it is. That's the kind of person we want in there.”

Once the treasurer and general manager are in place, Zay said the next step will be to do “an extensive” search to find a permanent replacement for the financial administrator who was fired when the accounting errors were discovered.

Cronin said the challenges water commissioners faces are “significant,” especially since state law will eliminate by 2016 a quarter-cent sales tax that goes to the commission. He said county board members must support the commission and encourage it “to make bold moves and decisive action to contain costs” and to set fair water rates.