The Bloomington City Council on Monday reviewed the funding and discussed how it is being represented on a McLean County council focused on mental and behavioral health.
The Behavioral Health Coordinating Council [BHCC] originally served as an ad-hoc committee to the McLean County Board, but it was restructured as a more independent advisory committee in 2024. In that role, the group focuses on drafting policy goals, specifically the Mental Health Action Plan, a document meant to guide the county on the mental health needs of its citizens.
Along with the BHCC'sindependence, the county board also created the Mental Health and Public Safety Funding Advisory Council [FAC] that now oversees the county's mental health and public safety fund.
That fund is administered by the county, but created through shared sales tax revenue from Bloomington and Normal. There are other funding sources, according to council member Sheila Montney, such as Community Block Development Grant funds and money from Medicaid, state grants, federal grants and private sector funds. But those are typically tied to specific initiatives.
The fund itself was under scrutiny in 2024 for having a balance of around $20 million.
The fund is spent in four ways: paying off building construction debts for the McLean County Land and Justice Center; criminal justice spending; behavioral health spending; and integrated justice information system spending.
Bloomington and Normal temporarily paused sharing their tax sale revenue with the fund. Three months of Bloomington withholding that sales tax revenue totaled about $800,000.
City Manager Jeff Jurgens said Monday the funds are still sitting there until the council decides votes what to do with them.
An audit into the fundwas approved in 2025, but has not been received yet.
During Monday's committee of the whole meeting, council member Mollie Ward asked if the city is aware of anyone who monitors how the funds are used and evaluates program effectiveness beyond the audit. Jurgens said he is not aware of anyone on the city side doing that.
Former city council member Donna Boelen said tracking or monitoring was suggested during the 2024 restructuring and that the FAC hired a grant administrator.
Boelen was allowed to speak outside of public comment given her former experience with the BHCC and as a former chairman of the FAC. She served on the Bloomington City Council from 2019 through her resignation in 2024.
"Mental health is the purview of the county," Boelen said during public comment. "The main thing with the BHCC is to prioritize services and update the action plan, they do not make financial or fiscal decisions."
BHCC meetings are not subject to Open Meetings Act requirements, and thus do not keep publicly available minutes. The Mental Health Public Safety Funding Advisory Council is subject to the Open Meetings Act. The FAC is required to meet once a year publicly, with agendas posted on the county website.
Montney said there are often special meetings called throughout the year. The FAC will meet next at 3 p.m. Aug. 21.
The BHCC's most recent action plan covers 2026 through 2028. Another county group, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, contributed to the plan to address the specific mental health needs of those directly or indirectly involved in the criminal justice system.
Multiple questions were raised Monday over the effectiveness of the way the funds are used, and what oversight there is. Montney referred those questions to county staff, or said the upcoming audit would likely answer them.
"Many of the expenditures remain known to this group," she said, and referred to a vote to provide fund money to support The Bridge, the tiny home village for people without housing.
Applications opened in early July for "emergent need" funds related to the BHCC. Ward asked how Montney and others on the board would decide how the funds will be dispersed. Montney said she has not experienced a meeting where emergent need funding was discussed. In the past, she said she determines if the proposal or request meets the needs outlined in a 2016 intergovernmental agreement establishing the council.
It appeared the city council at times did not fully understand how the BHCC makes recommendations and how grant funds are dispersed. Boelen referred to a committee that reviews grant applications. Ward asked if anyone was aware of who sits on that body, but Mayor Dan Brady suggested the question be brought up again during the August committee of the whole meeting.
Montney said the original 2016 intergovernmental agreement has good intentions, but lacks important details regarding specifics on how the council should work.
"I believe all parties entered this with a worthy goal and a sincere commitment," she said. "However, the details of how were insufficiently documented."
Brady recommended staff and members of the BHCC be invited to the next committee of the whole meeting to answer the specific and pointed questions Montney was not able to answer.
Vape vending
Also Monday, the council briefly discussed the possibility of vape vending machines in the city.
State law allows vape-device vending machines in liquor establishments as the machines are under the direct control and supervision of management.
A business would need a city and state tobacco license. State law allows the vending machines in spaces where only adults 21 and older can enter. Bloomington does not have any "adult only" spaces, but does have tavern liquor licenses that require someone to be 21 or older to enter, and require minors can only enter if they are with a parent or work at the establishment.
City Clerk Leslie Yocum suggested vending machines could be placed in areas similar to where slot machines are placed in bars or liquor stores, as those areas are for people 21 and older.
The council took no action.
