WGLT McLean County Clerk Kathy Michael on Thursday administered the oath to Jim Rogal as he was sworn in to serve on the county board.
The McLean County Board on Thursday approved construction of a $350 million wind farm project in the southeastern corner of the county, becoming the county’s fifth wind farm.
The board also named labor union leader Jim Rogal to fill a board vacancy in District 4, and approved a contract for interim county administrator Cassy Taylor.
Sapphire Sky Wind Energy LLC won approval to build up to 64 wind turbines of up to 590 feet tall across more than 14,000 acres in Bellflower and West townships. The wind farm would generate 250 megawatts of power and plans to provide power to about 80,000 homes annually.
WGLT
McLean County Clerk Kathy Michael, whose office is based in the McLean County Government Center, says it needs to be clear where the fees collected from taxpayers are going, especially if the legislature wants to double a fee paid on deeds and other real estate documents.
A group of 10 Central Illinois county clerks says they re against a proposal to raise a fee that funds housing authority grants because of discrepancies in data reporting and unequal distribution of grants across the state.
The $9 is collected on real estate documents (such as deeds) that county clerks record. The proposal currently in the Illinois Senate would raise that to $18. It would also create a task force to review how the money from the fee is used.
Peoria, IL, USA 104.9 The Wolf
Jeremy Scott/1470-100.3 WMBD
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. If the proposed Illinois House Bill 3878 passes through the Senate, all documents filed through any recorder of deeds office would increase from $9 to $18.
The money collected by recorder of deeds offices goes directly into the state’s Rental Housing Support Program.
What that program does, Tazewell County Clerk John Ackerman said, seems like a secret.
“We’ve requested over the past several years [to know] where this revenue is going,” Ackerman said. “We never have been able to get from the State of Illinois a clear answer as to allocation of where all this funding is going.
Staff
Originally published on April 26, 2021 10:23 pm
An unusually close race for a small-town town council seat is the latest proof that every vote matters in McLean County.
Incumbent Michael Deavers and challenger William Lally both ended up with 78 votes after the April 6 election for the Danvers Town Council. Even after all the mail-in and early ballots, there was still a tie. So a lottery drawing was the answer, because someone has to win.
So on Monday at the Government Center, election judges literally pulled a name out of a hat to decide it. Lally was the winner.
“It (politics) is still essentially something that we as humans make up as we go along,” said Lally.
Ryan Denham / WGLT
Consolidated local elections typically produce a lower voter turnout than even-year elections like presidential cycles. Normally, only about 20% of registered voters cast ballots.
For Tuesday’s election, the Bloomington Election Commission and the McLean County Clerk’s office project turnout could run a little higher, possibly between 25-30%.
Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
Bloomington Election Commission
What are the reasons? BEC Executive Director Tim Mitchell said he thinks there is some carryover from the divisive November election.
“In Georgia this past week, they passed a new law to impact voters down there, which has made national headlines,” said Mitchell. “The whole concept of voting is still in the forefront of people’s minds.”