The McLean County Property Committee on Dec. 2 approved a series of routine property actions, including an emergency appropriation to complete furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) at the Animal Services building and a construction-management contract for rehabilitation of the Fairview Building.

Vice Chair Layman presided at the meeting held at the county building at 200 West Front Street. Director of Facilities Management Joe Gaither and County Administrator Cassie Taylor briefed the committee on the items. Gaither said the emergency ordinance amends the McLean County fiscal year 2025 combined annual appropriation to add final FF&E for the Animal Services building. The committee voted to approve the emergency appropriation after Member Duffy moved the measure and Member O'Neil seconded it.

The committee also approved a contract with Core Construction Services of Illinois, Inc. for construction-management services on the Fairview Building rehabilitation project. Gaither described the contract as a standardized construction-management agreement as the project moves forward; Member Bell moved the contract and Member Duffy seconded it. The motion carried on a voice vote.

On facilities-related leases, Administrator Cassie Taylor presented the county's annual lease with the Veterans Assistance Commission for office space at 200 West Front Street and said there are no changes to the agreement; the committee approved the lease by voice vote. The committee also approved an amendment to the county's amended-and-restated lease with the Public Building Commission to include 2026 amounts and a companion amendment to the operation-and-maintenance contract between the county and the Public Building Commission. Member Duffy moved the lease amendment and Member Bangor seconded; Member Bell moved the operation-and-maintenance amendment and Member O'Neil seconded; both measures were approved.

Separately, the committee approved a community proposal to wrap an electric utility cabinet at the corner of Front and East Street with artwork commemorating downtown circus performers and the courthouse/history museum. Administrator Taylor said the proposing group coordinated with facilities and that the wrap would not affect the unit's functionality; Member Duffy moved the measure and Member Bangert seconded it.

None of the approved items included dollar amounts in the meeting transcript; when asked, Gaither acknowledged a repair quote had been received for another item (a fire-pump control panel discussed during the information portion) but the transcript does not record the quoted dollar amount.

The committee set its next regular meeting for Jan. 6, 2026, at 5 p.m.