Gov. Ryan Issues Executive Order Forming Mississippi Delta Advisory Council

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan today issued an executive order creating the Mississippi Delta Advisory Council for the 16 Southern Illinois counties in the federally designated Lower Mississippi River Region.

"This Council will be helpful in developing a coordinated and comprehensive economic program for the region," Governor Ryan said. "The Council with the cooperation of the Illinois Workforce Advantage program, will help in expanding access to state services for individuals and families in distressed communities."

The executive order allows Illinois to participate in the Delta Regional Authority which was developed through the passage of legislation in Congress and signed into law by the President.

The Advisory Council will be chaired by Governor Ryan's Deputy Chief of Staff for Southern Illinois, Robert Winchester. The Council will have 21 members representing such areas as municipal government, education, transportation, housing, public safety-criminal justice, agriculture, health care and economic development. The Council members will serve without compensation but will be reimbursed for expenses.

Council members will review and make recommendations for Illinois projects to be submitted for funding by the Delta Regional Authority and to coordinate and submit a state development plan for the Illinois Delta counties.

Counties covered by the Mississippi Delta Advisory Council include Alexander, Pulaski, Massac, Hardin, Pope, Johnson, Union, Jackson, Williamson, Saline, Gallatin, White, Hamilton, Franklin, Perry and Randolph.

A list of council members is listed below:

Municipal Government
Mayor James Wilson
Cairo

Mayor Beth Clanahan
Metropolis

Education
Robert L. Mees, President
John A. Logan College
Carterville

Transportation
Betty Green, Executive Director
Rides Mass Transit District
Rosiclare

Housing
Cheryl Vanderford, Executive Director
Shawnee Development Council
Karnak

Regional Planning Commissions
Kimberly Watson, Executive Director
Southeastern Illinois Regional Planning and Development Commission
Harrisburg

Lisa D. Thurston, Executive Director
Southern Five Regional Planning Commission
Ullin

Empowerment Zones
Donna Raynolds, Executive Director
Southernmost Illinois Delta Empowerment Zone
Ullin

Banking/Lending
Everett Knight, Chief Executive Officer
Banterra Bank Corp.
Eldorado

Public Safety/Criminal Justice
Thomas A. Denton Jr., Chief of Police
Pinkneyville

Health Care
Barbara Dallas, Senior Director
Illinois Hospital and Health Systems Association,
Rural Hospital Services
Carbondale

Economic Development
Edward D. Crow, Director
Randolph County Department of Economic Development Chester

JoEllen Seil, Executive Director
White County Economic Development Group
Grayville

Agriculture
Kevin Farrell, President Bethel Grain Co.
Benton

At-Large Members Charlotte Anderson, Director
Main Street Golconda
Golconda

Kevin Davis, General Manager
Rend Lake Conservancy District
Benton

Jerry Reppert, Publisher
Gazette Democrat
Anna

Don Sanders, President
Johnson County Chamber of Commerce
Vienna

John R. Taylor, Business Manager
Southern and Central Illinois Laborers' Council
McLeansboro

Lawrence Wooden, Member
Shawneetown Regional Port Authority
Shawneetown

Ad Hoc Members
Richard Kordesh, Director
Illinois Workforce Advantage

Karl Bartelsmeyer, District Engineer
Department of Transportation, District 9

Lynn Koch, Regional Project Specialist
Department of Commerce and Community Affairs

Marvin Teckenbrock, Manager
Rural Development, U. S. Department of Agriculture