By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – McLean County is the first government body to officially endorse a new regional economic development plan.
County Board chairman Matt Sorensen said the county plans to be more than just cheerleaders for BN Advantage, a multi-agency effort to attract and grow business in the community.
“They want members of the McLean County Board, they want me to be actively involved in the different committees and the structure of how BN Advantage moves forward,” Sorensen said. “I think we are all on board to do that. We intend to be a fully active participant.”
The resolution the County Board adopted doesn’t specify any particular resources the county will give to the effort.
Sorensen added the resolution doesn’t endorse any particular proposal from among the hundreds of ideas submitted by the public, including potentially wedge issues like the proposed East Side Highway and downtown Bloomington hotel.
“What the resolution doesn’t do is say we specifically endorse every single component of the hundreds of recommendations that are in that BN Advantage strategy plan,” Sorensen said.
Board member Rich Buchanan, the only no vote, worries that opposition to any particular idea might water down the county’s backing.
“I challenge anybody to read that revised motion to say ‘Oh, ok, we kind of approve it,” Buchanan said.
Buchanan said there aren’t any particular concepts he opposes.
O’Connor retires
There will soon be a vacancy of the McLean County Board as a three-time board member is retiring.
Sondra “Sonny” O’Connor of Normal served parts of three terms over two stints going back to 2002. O’Connor announced to the board she is moving to Texas after her resigns on Nov. 6.
“I have been in Bloomington-Normal for 52 years, came here 17 years of age and I raised my family and got my education,” O’Connor said. “It’s been wonderful for me and I count on you guys to take good care of it.”
The county will soon be taking applications for the vacant District 5 seat which covers north Normal.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].
