Bi-State Development adds member to board

    Bi-State Development announced Herbert Simmons is the newest member appointed to its Board of Commissioners. The St. Clair County Board recently approved Simmons’ appointment to the board. Simmons, Director of the St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency, replaces Jeffrey K. Watson whose board term had expired.
    In his role as director of St. Clair County EMA, Simmons is responsible for the emergency preparations for St. Clair County and oversight of its response to natural disasters and other emergency incidents. Simmons is also currently the executive director of the St. Clair County Emergency Telephone System Board and the mayor of East Carondelet, Ill. – a position he has held for the past 34 years.
    The Bi-State Development 10-member Board of Commissioners provides overall leadership and policy direction for the organization, and is comprised of five members from Illinois and five from Missouri. In Missouri, the governor selects members of the board, and in Illinois, county board chairmen for both St. Clair and Madison counties appoint their representatives.