McLean County Times

McLean County Justice Committee met Feb. 4.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

The Justice Committee of the McLean County Board met on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. in Room 400 of the Government Center, 115 E. Washington Street, Bloomington, Illinois.

Members Present: Chair Jim Rogal, Members Adam Reeves, Eric Hansen, Mark Clauss, Natalie Roseman-Mendoza, Corey Beirne and Andy Zeibarth

Members Absent: None

Other County Board Members Present: None

Staff Present: Cassy Taylor, County Administrator; Cathy Dreyer, Assistant County Administrator; Anthony Grant, Assistant County Administrator; Don Rood, First Assistant State’s Attorney – Civil Division; Julie Morlock, recording secretary.

Department Heads/Elected Officials Present: Suzanne Montoya, Court Services; Ron Lewis, Public Defender; Erika Reynolds, State’s Attorney; Matt Lane, Sheriff; Aileen Pagán Vega, Director for the Children’s Advocacy Center; Will Scanlon, Circuit Court

Others Present: Dan Leary, Information Technologies

Chair Rogal called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. and declared a quorum.

Chair Rogal confirmed there were no members of the public or County employees to appear before the Committee.

Chair Rogal presented for approval the consent agenda including minutes from the January 8, 2025 regular meeting and December 12, 2024 special meeting as well as invoices in the amount of $707,039.00.

Motion by Reeves/Hansen to approve the minutes from the January 8, 2025 regular meeting and December 12, 2024 special meeting as well as invoices in the amount of $707,039.00.

Motion carried.

Mr. Rogal noted that Mr. Don Everhart, McLean County Circuit Clerk was not present and indicated they would come back to his report if he arrived before the end of the meeting.

Chair Rogal presented for action on behalf of Matt Lane, McLean County Sheriff a request to approve an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Bloomington and County of McLean Regulating use by the County of Mclean of the City of Bloomington Police Shooting Range. Mr. Lane noted this is an annual agreement to allow sheriff department officers to use the range for training.

Motion by Reeves/Roseman/Mendoza to recommend approval of an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Bloomington and County of McLean Regulating use by the County of Mclean of the City of Bloomington Police Shooting Range.

Motion Carried.

Chair Rogal presented for action on behalf of Mr. Lane a request to approve an Emergency Appropriation Ordinance Amending the McLean County Fiscal Year 2025 Combined Annual Appropriation and Budget Ordinance for the Sheriff’s Department. Mr. Lane noted they had received notice of receipt of a grant from ILEAS for tasers. He indicated this request was to pay for the tasers up front as the grant reimburses the County for three quarters of the cost.

Motion by Beirne/Ziebarth to recommend approval of an Emergency Appropriation Ordinance Amending the McLean County Fiscal Year 2025 Combined Annual Appropriation and Budget Ordinance for the Sheriff’s Department.

Motion Carried.

Chair Rogal presented for action on behalf of Mr. Lane a request to approve an Intergovernmental Agreement for Law Enforcement Services. He indicated that the City of Bloomington is now the primary responder at the Airport. Mr. Lane noted this is an agreement that would supplement the coverage provided by the City to ensure an appropriate response time if there is a need at the airport.

Motion by Hansen/Reeves to recommend approval of an Intergovernmental Agreement for Law Enforcement Services.

Motion Carried. .

Mr. Lane presented the Sheriff’s reports to the Committee. Chair Rogal asked if there were any additional questions, hearing none, he thanked him.

Chair Rogal noted that Ms. Katheen Yoder, County Coroner was not present but her reports were in the packet. Chair Rogal asked if there were any questions from the Committee members; hearing none he moved to the next item on the agenda.

Chair Rogal presented on behalf of Ron Lewis, Public Defender a request to approve a contract with Carissa Haning as a Special Public Defender. Mr. Lewis noted they are down positions in his office and staff is currently rotating to cover this workload. He indicated that the intent of this contract is to provide coverage until they hopefully hire attorneys who pass the bar in either February or July.

Motion by Beirne/Hansen to recommend approval of a contract with Carissa Haning as a Special Public Defender.

Motion Carried.

Mr. Lewis presented his monthly report to the Committee. Chair Rogal asked if there were any questions; hearing none, he thanked him.

Suzanne Montoya, Court Services Director presented her reports to the Committee. Chair Rogal asked if there were any other comments or questions; hearing none, he thanked her.

Chair Rogal presented on behalf of Ms. Aileen Pagán Vega, Director for the Children’s Advocacy Center a request to approve a Contract for Services between DeWitt County Community Mental Health Board and Children’s Advocacy Center. Mr. Rogal noted that Ms. Pagán Vega was not present and asked Ms. Taylor if she could provide additional information. Ms. Taylor noted the Children’s Advocacy Center provides services in DeWitt County and this provides for our reimbursement by the DeWitt County Board for those services.

Motion by Roseman-Mendoza/Hansen to recommend approval of a Contract for Services between DeWitt County Community Mental Health Board and Children’s Advocacy Center.

Motion Carried.

Mr. Rogal noted that Ms. Pagán Vega was not present but her reports were in the packet. Chair Rogal asked if there were any questions, hearing none, he moved to the next item.

Chair Rogal presented on behalf of Ms. Erika Reynolds, State’s Attorney a request to approve a Grant Agreement between the State of Illinois, Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority and McLean County. Ms. Reynolds noted this is for the continuation of a grant that has been in place for several years that covers costs of our victim advocate.

Motion by Reeves/Clauss to recommend approval of a Grant Agreement between the State of Illinois, Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority and McLean County.

Motion Carried.

Ms. Reynolds provided her reports to the Committee. Chair Rogal asked if there were any questions; hearing none, he thanked her.

Chair Rogal presented on behalf of Mr. Will Scanlon, Circuit Court a request to approve an Agreement with the National Center for State Courts. Mr. Scanlon provided a history of the establishment of the family treatment court. He noted contract covers services provided as part of that family court. Mr. Rogal noted that he had heard good things so far about the program.

Motion by Roseman-Mendoza/Zeibarth to recommend approval of an Agreement with the National Center for State Courts.

Motion Carried.

Chair Rogal noted that Mr. Everhart had not joined the meeting but his monthly and quarterly reports to the Committee were in the packet and asked members to contact Administration or Mr. Everhart if there were questions. Ms. Pagán Vega joined the meeting.

Ms. Cassy Taylor, County Administrator indicated she did not have any items for the Committee.

Chair Rogal noted the next meeting date would be Wednesday, March 5, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. He asked if there was any other business; hearing none, he adjourned the meeting at 4:14 p.m.

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