BLOOMINGTON - It was 21 years ago this month that John Zeunik left his job with an investment firm in Chicago to take the position of McLean County administrator. | Quick bio | Departments cut budgets

Zeunik, 59, will retire on Friday after guiding county government through a period of growth where the population increased from 120,000 to 160,000 and the county's staff nearly doubled. He also provided a steady hand in the aftermath of the McLean County Law and Justice Center explosion in June 2003 that caused $4 million in damage.

The Indianapolis native looked back on his tenure in McLean County during a recent interview and made a few predictions about the county's future.

Q: What has been your toughest challenge?

A: The most challenging event was the explosion and fire in June of 2003. It was Father's Day weekend. It was a beautiful summer's day and I get a phone call in the morning to say black smoke is pouring out of the Law and Justice Center and there had been a loud explosion in the downtown area. How quickly would we be able to return the building to use and how would county government respond to the center of government and health department being impacted?

Q: County government is not only county administration. Do you find that people forget there are so many components to county government?

A: The difficult thing about county government is that it is not a typical organization in the sense that even though I sit in the position as county administrator, the county administrator does not have the authority to tell certain offices and departments, 'This is what you are going to do.'

(Referring to the Law and Justice Center explosion) But that single event, even though it was very challenging and very difficult situation was probably, you know, one of the great successes of county government because of the fact that everyone was able to work together. It was a remarkable 100 or so days between the time of the (explosion) and when we were able to restore operations back to the building.

Q: During your 21-year tenure there has been tremendous growth in the Twin Cities and McLean County. When you started in 1988 the county's general fund budget was $31 million and this year it is about $79 million. The number of full-time county employees was about 475 and now it is 817. How do you keep a handle on everything during such a significant period of growth?

A: The county government has been very fortunate in that we've had significant growth in Bloomington and Normal and now within the last four to five years we are starting to see some significant economic development in the county as a result of wind farm development.

Again, the unique thing about county government is that unless you live in the unincorporated area of the county, you are not going to receive direct services from the county. Services you receive … are indirect in contrast to services that are provided by a city, town or village.

As the community has grown what we've seen is the largest component of county government, which is the civil and criminal justice system, has grown.

Q: Overcrowding at the jail seems to be on a lot of minds right now and there are options being tossed around such as expansion and home confinement. What do you see at the perfect solution for McLean County?

A: I don't know that there is a perfect solution. Certainly what we've been able to do in probably the last three to four years with the cooperation of the chief judge and the court (is) making in-roads to providing some alternatives which I think are very important components of the justice system.

The drug court is a good example of a program that was studied and looked at for a long, long time and then decisions were made … to move forward on this program and it's a remarkable program in terms of the number of people it can serve and the success stories that can come out of that.

However … the sheriff doesn't control what's coming in the front door, the court doesn't control what cases appear before them on a day-to-day basis. So it's a very, very difficult thing and it is something the county will continue to have to address.

Q: Is the recession a catalyst for more cooperation and intergovernmental agreement among McLean County, the town of Normal and city of Bloomington?

A: When I started in this position in May 1988, one of the things I quickly noted was that there was a strong commitment towards intergovernmental cooperation, certainly among the three elected leaders.

I don't think there wasn't a day that went by or an issue that went by that (then-County Board Chairwoman Nancy Froelich) didn't think in terms of intergovernmental cooperation.

The working relationship that existed between Nancy and (former Bloomington) Mayor (Jesse) Smart and (former Normal) Mayor (Paul) Harmon contributed a lot to that.

And so in those early years we looked at implementing the solid waste management plan which was a state mandate. We initiated … the most authoritative and extensive looks at the Mahomet Aquifer and whether the aquifer could truly support a regional water system.

Q: When you announced your retirement, one of the things you said you wanted to do is get back to the classroom. What is it about teaching that has that special pull for you?

A: When I was finishing up my master's degree, I spent four years teaching in Chicago in a high school situation. But I absolutely loved the classroom experience. Not everyone has the same experience that maybe I've had … the dynamic, the interaction, the ability to see that connection where someone actually gets the concept and understands what it is you are talking about.

There is something you can do in a classroom that you can't do anywhere else and the opportunity - especially in the area of state and local government and American government - to share with students what their government is all about.

What will I be doing at this point? We'll see if there are some opportunities out there to do that. If not, I'll see if there is something out there to keep me occupied.

I am looking forward to my first summer in 21 years of not having to work on a budget and not have to spend all summer thinking about budget issues.

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John M. Zeunik

Age: 59

Education: Bachelor's and master's degrees from Loyola University at Chicago.

Experience: McLean County administrator, vice president of public finance for Midwest region for E.F. Hutton & Co., associate administrator of operations at Cook County Hospital and assistant to Cook County's chief administrator .

Sources: Pantagraph archives, John M. Zeunik.