McLean County Board

The McLean County Board on Tuesday approved next year’s leaner budget, shedding staff to help offset lost revenue caused by the long-awaited state budget agreement.

Negotiations over tax incentives to bring a Canada-based Brandt Industries manufacturing plant to McLean County were unusual in that they included the Unit 5 school superintendent and the county board chair at the table, as well as economic development officials.

The McLean County Board voted 16-1 on Tuesday for a proposed deal to bring a Canadian manufacturer to central Illinois in exchange for at least 300 jobs and a plant investment of more than $21 million.

McLean County Board Chairman John McIntyre said Tuesday he is polling board members whether and how they think election functions should be combined between the clerk's office and the Bloomington Election Commission.

A member of the Bloomington Planning Commission was sworn in Tuesday to fill the McLean County Board seat previously held by Rich Buchanan.

The Town of Normal wants to cut its payroll because of revenue losses. Staff are recommending the town offer early retirement incentives to 18 people.

An open house about plans to widen an east-side Bloomington intersection at Towanda Barnes and Ireland Grove roads drew heat from residents Wednesday night.

McLean County government must cut up to 25 people from its workforce, County Administrator Bill Wasson said Monday during a Board Finance Committee meeting.

A Libertarian from Bloomington has announced plans to run for the McLean County Board.

A Colfax Republican plans to run for the McLean County Board in 2018.

Four people want to succeed McLean County Board member Rich Buchanan—and three of them are former Bloomington City Council or mayoral candidates.

Federal prosecutors want former McLean County Board chairman Matt Sorensen to be sentenced to more than two years in prison for his role in a scheme to defraud State Farm.

Democrat Erik Rankin announced Tuesday he won't seek re-election to the McLean County Board in 2018.

Unit 5 officials are pleased after the McLean County Board on Tuesday changed a couple of polling place locations in Normal to get them out of schools.

McLean County Board members had braced for a second long discussion over funding for a mental health coordinator and its duties, but the issue passed Tuesday without a whisper.

A longtime public servant has come to the end of his community activism. Rich Buchanan has resigned his McLean County Board seat for health reasons.

McLean County Board members disagreed Tuesday on how to fund a job supporting behavioral health services.

A Democrat from Saybrook has announced plans to challenge McLean County Board vice chairman Jim Soeldner in next year's election.

Democrat David Siebert said in a Facebook post Tuesday that he plans to run for the McLean County Board District 2 seat currently held by Soeldner, a Republican from Ellsworth.

The Corporation for Supportive Housing is giving McLean County a $200,000 grant. The money will help analyze data from housing, homeless, healthcare and law enforcement agencies to help identify super-users of the system so they can be better treated and diverted from jail or prison.

CSH Program Manager John Fallon recently spoke with GLT about the importance of establishing supportive housing and delivering services in that space.

McLean County will break ground on its $40 million jail expansion May 5.

Inmate capacity will double to 400.

There's debate on the McLean County Board over how much priority to give improvements at an east side intersection.

County Board members agreed on more discussion for the $1.6 million project at Towanda Barnes and Ireland Grove roads.

McLean County Government is planning a behavioral health forum as part of its continued focus on mental health issues.

County Board Chair John McIntyre said it will be May 18th.

The union representing Metcom workers in McLean County is heading back to the bargaining table with the county right after approval of the latest contract.

That's because the 23 members of the bargaining unit have been working on an expired agreement for more than a year.

The McLean County Board will keep their monthly meetings scheduled at 9 a.m. despite multiple board members voting against it. 

District Nine Representative Erik Rankin said board members received a large number of phone calls and emails from constituents concerned about the meeting time.