By Heart of Illinois ABC
BLOOMINGTON – McLean County government officials and the county auditor continue to haggle over the duties of the auditor’s office, making it harder for the government to pay its bills.
Auditor Michelle Anderson and other county leaders have been embroiled in several disputes over the auditor’s responsibilities, and on Wednesday, the county board’s finance committee took action on the seemingly minor duty of updating contact information for the county’s various vendors.
Currently, only the auditor updates address changes and other information about the vendors, but the county board’s finance committee voted 6-1 recommending the full board authorize the county treasurer to also update vendor data.
“The last thing I want to do is see an invoice sit there and not be paid because we’re waiting for updates to the vendor file, and that’s the reason for my request,” said Treasurer Rebecca McNeil.
Finance Committee member Chuck Erickson voted against McNeil’s request, saying he wanted to hear Anderson’s side of the story.
However, Anderson did not attend the virtual meeting. Committee Chairman Jim Soeldner said Anderson told him she had other obligations.
The committee can’t force elected officials like Anderson to attend its meetings, but Erickson urged Soeldner to keep inviting her to the sessions.
“If she comes, she comes and if she doesn’t come, she doesn’t come, and the voters can decide what or if anything they wish to do with that,” Erickson said.
Committee member Catherine Metsker remembers similar issues in her role as White Oak Township Supervisor during a dispute with the township clerk.
“We were not able to demand her to attend meeting meetings and do the things that needed to be done. The only way to correct that was for the voters not to elect her, so that’s how it ended up happening for us,” Metsker said.
Maintaining the vendors list is not the only bone of contention in recent weeks between Anderson and other county officials.
County leaders said Anderson failed to process a $1.4 million payment to the county’s public building commission for the Law and Justice Center and other properties. According to Soeldner, Anderson claimed she didn’t receive an written invoice.
According to County Administrator Camille Rodriguez, Anderson did receive written and electronic invoices. Rodriguez said she wound up directing the treasurer to make the payment.
The latest troubles come as Anderson campaigns for reelection. Other Republican county office holders backed a primary opponent in March, but Anderson successfully fought off that challenge. She faces Democrat Rob Fazzini and Libertarian Kevin Woodard in the November election.
Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected].
