The McLean County Justice Committee voted Jan. 7 to transfer bailiff positions from the Sheriff’s Department to the Jury Commission, and it heard an informational briefing from Sheriff Matt Lane about a substantial lighting-control problem in the jail annex.

Sheriff Matt Lane told the committee the transfer reflects where day-to-day supervision of bailiffs already occurs: "The jury commission is more well informed and works more closely with the courtrooms individually to know what cases are going," he said, and payroll and personnel management will move accordingly.

The motion to place the transfer on the floor was made, seconded and approved by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

Separately, Lane described an electrical relay failure in the new portion of the jail that has caused some lights to remain stuck on or off. He said the relay appears to be an obsolete device (the relay was noted as obsolete in 2009 and installed in 2018) and that a contractor’s incorrect hookup may have "fried" the unit. Lane said staff have located one replacement but that the particular part may no longer be manufactured.

"We have to be able to control them," Lane said, describing roughly 40 to 50 boxes that may need changing to restore normal lighting control. He said no bids or firm cost estimates are available yet; repairs are in the planning and negotiation stage with facilities staff and vendors, and the county is examining warranty and contractual remedies.

The committee asked for updates as the county refines cost estimates and potential remedies.