McLean County Board

A clean audit of the McLean County Mental Health and Public Safety Fund won't wipe away all the disagreements over how the county spends sales tax money shared by Bloomington and Normal.

After a pause, wind farm development could take a step forward in McLean County, according to County Board Chair Elizabeth Johnston. A battery energy storage system attached to a wind farm is moving ahead in McLean County.

The McLean County Board approved a pair of facilities in the eastern part of the county that will store energy produced when demand is low, and distribute when need is high.

The fund came under scrutiny in 2024 when town and city elected officials learned of a $20 million balance, leading to calls for an audit. Normal and Bloomington temporarily paused sharing the tax revenue from April 2026 through June 2026.

Bloomington-Normal unions hosted a forum Monday night to hear from candidates for McLean County Board and several countywide positions, including clerk.

The chair of the McLean County Board said she is not yet satisfied with the solution of a loan to the village of Hudson to make up for an error in tax collection.

The no-interest loan will cover the village for taxes not collected in 2026. The village will repay the loan by collecting the missing money in 2027 along with the tax funds from this year.

You might know him as Coach Mac, Principal McIntyre or Mr. Board Chair. Regardless of what his title was, John McIntyre said he was drawn his entire life to serving Bloomington-Normal.

The approval stops short of six-month moratoriums approved by Bloomington and Normal, but gives McLean County more stringent rules than most neighboring counties, officials said.

The zoning board's more detailed rules for data centers cover everything from infrastructure and lighting to power and water use.