Proposed mental health council prompts board debate

June 17--BLOOMINGTON -- A proposal to create a McLean County Behavioral Health Coordinating Council prompted an hour-long debate at the County Board on Tuesday after one member suggested it would be nothing more than a "lobbying committee to pound the County Board for more money."

Board member Chuck Erickson said he would rather create a County Board subcommittee that would take testimony from community leaders.

"We need to take control of this before it becomes a runaway train," he said.

Erickson also suggested the proposed coordinating council would create a potential conflict of interest because mental health providers in the community would be suggesting things that they could do.

The idea of creating a coordinating council made up of leaders from health care, social justice, social services and housing agencies, was one of several recommendations in a countywide plan to improve mental health services in the county.

Board Member John McIntyre, one of four board members who headed committees that drafted the final report, said the proposed council would coordinate mental health services in the community.

"It has nothing to do with money or funding," he said.

Member Susan Schafer, who also helped draft the 90-page final report, said the council is "one piece of many things in the report."

"It's not got anything to do with money; it's bringing people to the table," she said. "It's one piece of structural change."

Board member William T. Caisley said during the county's nearly two-year look at mental health services, committees found both gaps and duplication in current services.

"There's no coordination," Caisley said.

But Erickson said elected officials have the competence to sort through things and his idea would allow community agencies to still have a voice and advocate.

"Elected officials should be the conductor of the train," he said.

Member Paul Segobiano agreed: "We need to take the information and deal with it."

Besides Erickson and Segobiano, members Mark Johnson and George Wendt voted against creating the council. Two members, Sondra "Sonny" O'Connor and Richard Buchanan were absent.

In another matter, the board also adopted a resolution again asking former U.S. Congressman Aaron Schock to reimburse the county for the costs of the upcoming special primary and general election to fill Schock's former seat.

McLean County Clerk Kathy Michael estimates the election will cost more than $200,000. In the resolution, the board notes the Federal Election Commission has indicated Schock's campaign committee had nearly $3.3 million "cash in hand" during the most recent reporting period of Jan. 1 through March 31, the day Schock resigned.

County Board Chairman Matt Sorensen previously sent a letter to Schock asking him to cover the election costs. Sorensen said Tuesday he has yet to hear back from Schock.

Follow Mary Ann Ford on Twitter: @pg_ford

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