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County officials respond to harassment concerns with security measures
By Edith Brady-Lunny and Greg Cima
eblunny@pantagraph.com | gcima@pantagraph.com
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BLOOMINGTON -- McLean County officials put security measures in place this week in response to concerns that a county worker was being harassed by County Board member Robert Nuckolls.

Sheriff Mike Emery and several other county officials met Friday to discuss two orders of protection filed last week against Nuckolls by two women who know each other and Nuckolls outside of work. The other woman is an employee at Illinois State University, where Nuckolls is director of ISU’s parking and transportation division.

“I’ve taken the appropriate action to provide for a safe and secure work environment,” Emery said Tuesday.

An investigation also is underway based on a harassment complaint filed against Nuckolls by the county employee, who works in the county clerk’s office. A hearing before a judge is scheduled for May 15 when the orders of protection are set to expire.

Nuckolls, 46, of Bloomington, does not face any criminal charges in connection with the women’s allegations that he threatened and harassed them.

The orders do allow Nuckolls to go to the Government Center to conduct business.

Nuckolls’ attorney, John Prior, said anyone can make allegations like the ones used as the basis for the emergency orders of protection, and he asked people to reserve judgment until he has a chance to respond in court. He said the protection orders are only temporary because, in the hearing for the orders, an accused person is not given the chance to respond to allegations or cross examine accusers.

“It could happen to you, it could happen to me,” Prior said. “Any household family member could go to court and petition for one of these emergency orders of protection.”

Prior said he and his client will not comment on the allegations or the effects they have had until the court hearing. But he said Nuckolls wants to and is prepared to respond in court and he will be there to answer questions afterward.

County Clerk Peggy Ann Milton said she has advised her staff that Nuckolls should deal directly with her if he comes into the office.

“We are doing everything possible to insure the safety of employees in the county clerk’s office,” said Milton.

On Monday, a sheriff’s deputy was in Milton’s office to answer questions about panic buttons located in several areas of the office.

McLean County Board Chairman Matt Sorenson said he was aware of the protective orders and the efforts to address potential safety concerns.

“As the employer of the young lady, we have the responsibility to administer the order of protection and make sure she’s secure,” said Sorenson.

Milton and other staff members also were questioned this week by a consultant hired by the county to address the harassment complaint filed April 29 against Nuckolls by the clerk’s employee.

Rob Kearney is conducting the probe into the complaint that Nuckolls may have violated county policy, County Administrator John Zeunik said Tuesday.

Kearney is chairman of Illinois Wesleyan University’s Business Administration Department and is performing the county work as a private consultant.

Zeunik said an outside consultant was hired because of potential conflicts with other county officials related to Nuckolls’ position on the county board. Kearney is an attorney and well versed in employment law, said Zeunik, adding the consultant’s report will be turned over to the county board.

“This is the first time this type of issue has been raised, with all the complexities involved. In 20 years, it’s the first time I’ve encountered anything like this,” said Zeunik.

In the meantime, the county board will conduct business as usual, said Sorenson.

“Bob doesn’t have a boss in his role as county board member. The board can’t fire him. He works for the voters,” said Sorenson.

Nuckolls is under court supervision until the end of March 2009 in connection with a conviction last year for misdemeanor battery in connection with a domestic dispute.

Mary Ann Ford contributed to this report.

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Reader comments on this story - 13 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

blahblahblah wrote on May 10, 2008 3:51 PM:

" Dear helloitsme:

Yes, he is still an ISU police officer, in fact, he is an ISU police CAPTAIN. "

sargentomalley wrote on May 7, 2008 4:09 PM:

" Hey samiam---what is BBC? "

sargentomalley wrote on May 7, 2008 3:25 PM:

" Another news media outlet states the two women are related. Hopefully there are no other alleged victims. If there are, please come out and let your voices be heard! "

middle of the road wrote on May 7, 2008 1:58 PM:

" Tim
theat is so if the wrong discission is made they have some besides themselves to blame "

brookian wrote on May 7, 2008 1:14 PM:

" To: sargentomalley

Cencorship at work at the Slandergraph. Hrmmmm....who has political ties at the paper? "

helloitsme wrote on May 7, 2008 1:10 PM:

" Does anyone know if Bob is still considered a ISU Police Officer? "

blono forever wrote on May 7, 2008 12:52 PM:

" The article is not about tax dollar expenditure! Perhaps the article should point out that tax payers should vote more responsibly, and not elect individuals with violent tendencies. "

squirrelioni wrote on May 7, 2008 12:51 PM:

" It will be interesting to see if and how far under the rug this gets swept. In the original incident the charge was plead down to simple battery from domestic battery. with that deal he was able to keep his seat on the board, and keep his position at ISU. I would like to how this will become a "misunderstanding" and get buried.
It would also be interesting to see if this new complaint has any relation to the circumstances surrounding the previous battery charge. As for the line "Bob doesn't have a boss in his role as county board member. The board can't fire him. He works for the voters," does that mean that board members are immune from the types of charges and allegations that would get people out in the working world fired? do the voters of mclean county have the ability to remove someone from elected office? Hopefully if this isnt just some "misunderstanding" he will resign from the board and his employer will take appropriate action "

samiam wrote on May 7, 2008 12:33 PM:

" Looks like the BBC is finally getting his "

FYI wrote on May 7, 2008 12:29 PM:

" to tim: because they can't be trusted...and they know it. How hard is it to make the call? He'll hire a lawyer either way, so make the call that you are paid to do Mclean County, as that's what we elected you for. "

Crybaby wrote on May 7, 2008 12:28 PM:

" "sargentomalley": I don't know where the comment went. But, if you take a look at the McLean County Circuit Clerk's website, you'll know why they went. "

sargentomalley wrote on May 7, 2008 12:13 PM:

" This morning, someone with the name hmmmmm had written in and their comments were published; where did they go? "

tim50 wrote on May 6, 2008 8:05 PM:

" Why do we elect office holders and hire and pay staff, if every time something happens we pay outide consultants to tell us what to do? More wasted tax dollars. "
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