By: Diane Benjamin
Yesterday the Executive Committee of the County Board passed a resolution for emergency replacement of the Board sound system. It’s $108,000, but the reference material is written so poorly it’s hard to prove that’s what they are buying. Here’s the agenda item:
The packet information isn’t any more clear: http://www.mcleancountyil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/4804
See page 44. Note: I always use the PDF page numbers instead of whatever number system the government agency uses.
This is the explanation from the packet:
It goes on to say there is money for this expenditure in the General Fund and they want to transfer it to IT.
The current system is still working, so this hardly qualifies as an emergency. I wonder who the vendor is for this emergency spending? A friend of government? A relative?
The documentation doesn’t say.
The full Board still has to vote. Let’s see which County Board members want to avoid the bid process and which think they shouldn’t. I do know the Executive Committee had at least 2 NO votes.
I hear it was County Administrator Bill Wasson pushing for this. With very limited information and no explanation of why it’s an emergency, the entire Board should vote NO. It can be added to next years budget if necessary.
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…coming from a former Board member, you are “huntin’ with the right dog.”
🙂
That much money for a PA system for a handful of board members? Imagine a garage band with that kind of money for a sound system they would blow windows out a bock away!
I have to agree. A sound board is a few thousand dollars. Mics are several hundred apiece. Not sure about speakers or live broadcasting/recordings, but it definitely will not take the rest of the 108k
The talked about a bid for AV equipment before this – that included the live-stream and recordings. There is NO description of what this is.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The Bloomington City Council ain’t got nothing on the McLean County Board. Keep digging. Government watchdogs have plenty of job security with them.
I NEED more watchdogs!
Wonder WHAT dates they have Pink Floyd booked for? That’s ludicrous!!, They could darn near set up a studio in the ARENA for that amount! And make it a PAYING proposition!!
I think the money could be better spent on having bigger pizza parties. Or may repair the old Terminal building. Or lighting at the old terminal. Or maybe just give everyone ear cones. Cheaper, and everyone could have a hat when the vote comes.
You know, the Board members could just pay for their own hearing aides.
I hear one guy knocked his mic off the table and took out some others. The rest of the meeting was a fiasco of squeals and mics that didn’t work. The system is old – but budget it!