Law & Justice Committee passes resolution

At this morning's Law & Justice Committee meeting (of members of the McHenry County Board), a resolution was considered that pertains to the Special Prosecutor investigating McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi.

Chair Nick Provenzano presented the resolution. Member Randy Donley asked why it wasn't in the packet given to Committee members before the meeting. County Administrator Peter Austin explained that the resolution came about due to concerns expressed by members of the County Board and citizens about the scope and cost of services from Special Prosecutor Henry Tonigan. The resolution didn't make it into the packet because it was prepared on short notice and delayed during last week's blizzard.

The resolution was prepared by some type of special attorney to the County (obviously, it couldn't be prepared by the State's Attorney or the Special Prosecutor), and that attorney emailed it last night at 10:46.

After all the legal WHEREASs, it's clear that the County is worried over the "apparent vagueness" that the original November 2009 order for a Special Prosecutor will result in an open-ended investigation of the State's Attorney's Office and the possibility of financial hardship for the County and exposure to civil liability.

The bottom line of the Resolution is that the County Board wants the scope of the Special Prosecutor to be clarified as to subject matter and duration.

Having now been approved 5-0 by the Law & Justice Committee, the Resolution will be considered by the County Board at its February 15th meeting.