McLean County justice committee approves court technology grant, sheriff payment contract and schedules jail safety upgrades

The McLean County Justice Committee approved an Administrative Office of Illinois Courts modernization funding agreement for court technology and an emergency appropriation to allocate the funds to the Circuit Court, authorized a contract with All Paid, Inc. to accept electronic payments for civil process fees, and heard staff briefings on opioid-program funding and planned jail safety upgrades.

The actions were taken by voice vote during the committee meeting after staff presented the items. Member Reeves moved approval of the consent agenda — which included approval of minutes from the March 5, 2025 regular meeting, bills totaling $755,462.55 and two transfers for the Sheriff’s Department — with Member Hansen seconding; the chair announced the ayes prevailed and the consent agenda was approved. Member Hansen moved approval of the Illinois Court Technology Modernization Program Funding Agreement, seconded by Member Mendoza; the motion carried. Member Roseman moved an emergency appropriation ordinance amending the McLean County fiscal year 2025 combined annual appropriation and budget ordinance for Fund 1, Circuit Court Department, seconded by Member Byrne; the motion carried. The committee also approved an agreement with All Paid, Inc. on a motion by Member Reeves, seconded by Member Rosemond.

“This is an Administrative Office of Illinois Courts grant. They were able to receive additional funds, to do some modernization in the Law and Justice Center for the courts, but some of those funds will also be used for court services,” Administrator Taylor said while presenting the court funding items.

Sheriff Lane described the All Paid contract as a user-paid convenience for people who do not bring checks or money orders: “This is to in order for us to be able to take, creditdebit payments, for I think mostly what it's going to cover is civil process fees that we collect to go serve papers. And it's no cost to us. There's a if they don't wanna come in and and bring in their check or money order, whatever, this would the the fee would go to the user, but it doesn't cost us anything. And it just might be more convenient and well worth it for some that are trying to get payment to us and a lot quicker.”

Committee members received informational presentations from the Sheriff’s Office and county administration. Sheriff Lane described a personnel reclassification pilot that moves one supervisor up in job class and moves the vacated position down in class to create an office manager role overseeing clerical personnel while leaving a records supervisor in place. Administrator Taylor said two funding requests will go to the Executive Committee next week: a reallocation of county opioid funds to sustain a medication-assisted recovery (MAR) program after a reduction in external grant support, and a budget amendment using the Mental Health and Public Safety Fund to fund two jail-area upgrades. The first upgrade is a partition to separate nursing staff from inmates receiving treatment; the second is modification of booking-area doors to add a food-tray pass-through to improve staff and inmate safety. Taylor said the budget amendment will be considered by the Executive Committee this month and that the contract for the door modifications will return to the Justice Committee next month.

The committee had no public appearances on the agenda and received standard monthly reports from the coroner, circuit clerk and other offices; several officeholders were not present and had reports on file. There was brief acknowledgment that the sheriff’s office joined a regional “10 shared principles” community-policing agreement.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda (minutes from 03/05/2025; bills totaling $755,462.55; two transfers for the Sheriff’s Department): motion by Member Reeves, second by Member Hansen — approved by voice vote (ayes prevailed; exact counts not specified). - Illinois Court Technology Modernization Program Funding Agreement (Administrative Office of Illinois Courts grant): motion by Member Hansen, second by Member Mendoza — approved by voice vote. - Emergency appropriation ordinance amending the McLean County fiscal year 2025 combined annual appropriation and budget ordinance for Fund 1, Circuit Court Department: motion by Member Roseman, second by Member Byrne — approved by voice vote. - Agreement with All Paid, Inc. to accept electronic payments for civil process fees: motion by Member Reeves, second by Member Rosemond — approved by voice vote.

The committee set its next meeting for May 7 at 4 p.m.