Justice Committee approves consent agenda, recurring grants, contracts and FY2026 budgets

The McLean County Justice Committee on Oct. 23 approved a consent agenda, a recurring emergency-management grant, several contracts and a package of fiscal year 2026 budgets affecting the county’s coroner, courts, law enforcement and public defense services.

The approvals, taken by voice vote, included a consent agenda that adopted minutes from Sept. 3 and recommended approval of $632,511.22 in bills and transfers; renewal of a recurring grant with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA)/Office of Homeland Security; a contract addendum to expand peer support services through the Center for Human Services; a contract with Prairie State Legal Services for eviction-mediation counseling; renewal of a special attorney contract providing coverage for specialty courts; an emergency appropriation ordinance amending a county fund for child-support work in the State’s Attorney’s office; and a series of department budgets for FY2026.

Why it matters: The votes fund daily operations across the county’s justice system, add personnel or contract resources for specialty services (eviction mediation, peer-support specialists, specialty courts), and change the county’s budgeting for child-support enforcement in a way the State’s Attorney said will reduce county costs.

Key actions and short descriptions

• Consent agenda — Approved. The committee approved the minutes from Sept. 3 and recommended payment of $632,511.22 in bills and transfers. Motion: Member Reeves; second: Member Hansen. (Voice vote.)

• IEMA grant agreement renewal — Approved. The sheriff’s office presented a recurring, annual preparedness grant from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency that contributes to the Emergency Management Agency budget. Motion: Member Reeves; second: Member Beirne. The sheriff told the…