McLean County Times

McLean County Finance Committee met July 9.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

The Finance Committee of the McLean County Board met on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. in Room 400 of the Government Center, 115 East Washington Street, Bloomington, IL.

Members Present: Chair Val Laymon, Members William Friedrich, Natalie Roseman Mendoza, and Sean Fagan

Members Absent: Members Mark Clauss, Brian Loeffler and Buck Farley Other Members Present: Chair Elizabeth Johnston and Member Adam Reeves

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 A. Morlock, Recording Secretary

Department Heads/Elected Officials Present: Rebecca McNeil, Treasurer; Tim Jorczak, Assessor; Marshell Thompson, Animal Control; Kathy Michael, County Clerk; Rhonda Flegel, METCOM

Others Present: Mark Senger, Elections Supervisor, County Clerk’s Office; Dan Leary, Information Technology

Chair Laymon called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. and declared a quorum.

Chair Laymon presented the consent agenda including the minutes from the June 4, 2025 regular meeting and invoices in the amount of $1,150,045.24.

Motion by Fagan/Roseman-Mendoza to approve the minutes from the June 4, 2025 regular meeting and invoices in the amount $1,150,045.24.

Motion carried.

Chair Laymon confirmed with Administrator Cassy Taylor there were no requests to speak from the public or County employees.

Chair Laymon presented for action a request to accept and place on file the County Treasurer’s monthly financial reports. She provided information on revenues and noted that the Shared Sales Tax Fund also includes Behavioral Health Program and SOC Grant. She then went over the investment report noting that rates continue to be favorable for the County investments. She went over the Blue Cross Blue Shield and Nursing Home Reports. Ms. McNeil let the Committee know they just received a report for the ACFR from the County Auditor that indicates the nursing home might have ended 2024 in a positive, but they are awaiting final numbers in the outside audit to confirm. Ms. McNeil noted we are currently on an extension from State Comptroller’s Office, as our audit was due at the end of June and if we do not file our audit with the State by August 29th there will be financial repercussions for the County.

Mr. Fagan asked if she knew the occupancy numbers for the nursing home right now. Ms. McNeil indicated she did not have those numbers as they are included in the report Mr. Wiley provides to the Health Committee.

Motion by Friedrich/Fagan to accept and place on file the County Treasurer’s Monthly Financial Reports.

Motion Carried.

Ms. Laymon noted the extra work load with the new ERP system and thanked her for the additional information on the audit.

Chair Laymon presented for action on behalf of Marshell Thomson, Director, Animal Services a request to approve a Resolution declaring surplus property at the Animal Services Department. She noted this vehicle is non-drivable so they are requesting it be disposed before they move to the new Animal Services facility. Ms. Laymon noted Gov Deals had been successfully used at the Parks and Highway Departments.

Motion by Roseman-Mendoza/Fagan to recommend approval of a Resolution declaring surplus property at the Animal Services Department.

Motion Carried.

Chair Laymon presented for action on behalf of Marshell Thomson, Director, Animal Services a request to approve an Ordinance Temporarily Amending Chapter 105 – 32 Fees for Animal Adoptions. Ms. Thompson noted this was a plan to try to find homes for more animals before they transition to the new facility.

Motion by Friedrich/Roseman-Mendoza to recommend approval of an Ordinance Temporarily Amending Chapter 105 – 32 Fees for Animal Adoptions.

Motion Carried.

Ms. Thomson, Director of Animal Control, presented the information in her reports to the Committee and thanked Administration for their assistance with the transition. Mr. Fagan asked if there had been any positive rabies tests. Ms. Thomson noted she was not aware of any this year. Chair Laymon thanked her for the information and noted members were looking forward to the opening of the new facility. Chair Laymon asked if there were any further questions or comments; hearing none, she thanked her.

Chair Laymon noted Ms. Michelle Anderson, County Auditor was not present and did not have anything in the packet for consideration. Ms. Laymon asked if any informational items had been provided to Administration for presentation to the Committee. Ms. Taylor indicated they had not received anything from the Auditor.

Chair Laymon presented for action on behalf of Kathy Michael, County Clerk a request to approve a Resolution Declaring Surplus Property in the County Clerk’s Office. Mr. Fagan asked how the Kardveyer machine was used in elections. Mr. Senger noted it stored voter registration cards and when a card was needed they pushed the corresponding letter, the machine rotated to that section and election officials pulled the card. Ms. Laymon asked him to confirm no voter information is currently stored in this machine. Mr. Singer agreed no information is in the machine as it just organized physical cards and rotated to the requested cards.

Motion by Fagan/Friedrich to recommend approval of a Resolution Declaring Surplus Property in the County Clerk’s Office.

Motion Carried.

Kathy Michael, County Clerk present her reports to the Committee. Chair Laymon asked if there were any questions; hearing none, she thanked her.

Timothy Jorczak, Chief County Assessment Officer presented several items to the Committee including an update on townships’ books and sending notices and publications starting in August. He also indicated that updated, folded and sealed post cards would be sent to residents that contained additional information residents had requested after our initial years sending post cards instead of letters. Next Mr. Jorczak indicated he and his staff would be working on a proposal to have historical records physically stored in their office digitized as the office had water damage after recent storms and they want to make sure none of the historical records are lost. Mr. Jorczak also noted staff would be out at the County Fair providing property tax information to people and answering their questions. Mr. Jorczak’ s final item of information was to let the Committee know he would need a stand-up meeting to request approval of a resolution allowing the County’s Legal Department to intervene in a pending appeal before the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board.

Ms. Laymon asked if there was an increased cost with the new postcards. Mr. Jorczak indicated they are still seeing a cost savings. Ms. Laymon thanked him for his outreach efforts and also thanked Facilities and Administration for jumping in to help mitigate water damage. Mr. Jorczak also thanked the facilities team, Mr. Grant and Ms. Taylor for their efforts with the rain event. Chair Laymon asked if there were any further questions or comments, hearing none she thanked him.

Ms. Laymon indicated the next items on the agenda required closed sessions and asked to move item 5 Other Business and Communication forward on the agenda. Members agreed. Ms. Laymon noted the missed deadline for the Audit, the County currently operating on an extension from the State and the outside Auditors still waiting on items from the County Auditor.

She indicated that because of those delays there may be financial repercussions for the County. Ms. Laymon asked for the Committee’s consensus on whether to formally request a legal opinion from the State’s Attorney’s office about any actions that could be taken to compel a county official to fulfill their statutory obligation. The Committee was in consensus that a request should be sent. Ms. Laymon noted a formal request for a legal opinion would be sent to the State’s Attorney.

Chair Laymon presented on behalf of Cassy Taylor, County Administrator a request to approve a contract between Laborer’s International Union of North America Local #362 and the County of McLean (METCOM agreement). Chair Laymon asked if anyone felt the need to go into closed session. Hearing no request she called the question.

Motion by Fagan/Friedrich to approve contract between Laborer’s International Union of North America Local #362 and the County of McLean (METCOM agreement)

Motion carried. Mr. Friedrich opposed.

Chair Laymon asked for a motion to go into Closed Session to discuss the next two items on the agenda regarding consideration and authorization to settle pending litigation. She read into the record both action items as well as the OMA condition for a closed session “Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting.”

Motion by Fagan/Roseman-Mendoza to go to Closed Session Pending Litigation. Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting.

Motion Carried.

Finance Committee went into closed session at 5:54 p.m.

Motion by Friedrich/Fagan to return to open session.

Motion Carried.

Finance Committee return to open session at 6:23 p.m.

Chair Laymon presented for action a request to authorize settlement for case no. 21-CV-1129

Motion by Roseman-Mendoza/Fagan to authorize settlement of case no. 21-CV-1129

Motion Carried.

Chair Laymon presented for action a request to authorize settlement for case no. 25-MC-001.

Motion by Friedrich/Roseman-Mendoza to authorize settlement of case no. 25- MC-001.

Motion Carried.

Ms. Laymon noting there was no further business for the Committee, she adjourned the meeting at 6:25 p.m.

https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_07092025-955