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 (EMA), 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, Illinois – a position he has held for the past 34 years. He is chairman and member of several boards and organizations, including the Illinois Terrorism Task Force, St. Clair County Transit District and the East- West Gateway Council of Governments.

“Over the years, I have had the privilege of serving this region and this community in various capacities, and I’m honored to have this opportunity to serve as a board commissioner for Bi-State Development,” Simmons said. “I enjoy being involved in the community, and I look forward to doing whatever I can to support the mission of this organization.”

Watson was appointed to the Bi-State Development Board of Commissioners in June 2003 by Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. During his tenure, Watson has held positions as Chairman and Treasurer of the Board of Commissioners, and has served on several committees, including the Audit, Finance and Administration Committee; Operations Committee; Strategic Planning and Economic Development Committee; Planning Committee; and he was the Executive Vice Chair of the Cross County MetroLink Committee.

“For nearly 16 years, Commissioner Watson’s leadership has helped this organization both overcome challenges and take advantage of new opportunities, including the expansion of MetroLink and growth of the region’s public transit system,” said Taulby Roach, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bi-State Development. “On behalf of everyone at Bi-State Development, I would like to extend our gratitude to Commissioner Watson for his dedicated service to our organization and the entire bi-state region.”

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.

About Bi-State Development

Bi-State Development (BSD) owns and operates St. Louis Downtown Airport and the Gateway Arch Riverboats, as well as operates the Gateway Arch Revenue Collections Center and Gateway Arch trams. BSD is the operator of the Metro public transportation system for the St. Louis region, which includes the 87 vehicle, 46-mile MetroLink light rail system; a MetroBus vehicle fleet of approximately 400 vehicles operating on 79 MetroBus routes; and Metro Call-A-Ride, a paratransit fleet of 120 vans. BSD also operates the Bi-State Development Research Institute and the St. Louis Regional Freightway, the region’s freight district.