McLean County Times

As McLean County officials continue to wrangle over the responsibilities that fall to County Auditor Michelle Anderson, the county has resorted to having to take votes on items as simple as updating the contact information for vendors the county works with.

The County Board’s Finance Committee recently voted 6-1 in favor of permitting County Treasurer Rebecca McNeil the authority to update vendor information, according to reporting by WEEK. Anderson did not attend the virtual meeting due to other obligations.

Committee member Chuck Erickson said he voted against the motion because he felt the committee should hear from Anderson prior to making a decision.

Among allegations in the ongoing dispute is a claim from county leaders that Anderson did not process a $1.4 million payment to the County Public Building Commission related to the Law and Justice Center and other properties. Finance Committee Chair Jim Soeldner said he was told by Anderson that she never received an invoice required to make the payment.

However, County Administrator Camille Rodriguez said that Anderson was sent both a written and electronic copy of the invoice.

Anderson is up for re-election, and faces Democrat Rob Fazzini and Libertarian Kevin Woodard in November. Finance Committee member Catherine Metsker alluded to the coming election in her remarks during the meeting. She remarked on the fact the committee cannot force Anderson to attend its virtual meetings.

Metsker referenced an experience she had as White Oak Township supervisor in which the township clerk would not attend meetings and could not be forced to attend.

"The only way to correct that was for the voters not to elect her, so that's how it ended up happening for us," Metsker said.