BLOOMINGTON - An outside investigation did not recommend censuring McLean County Board member Robert Nuckolls, who has been accused of harassing a county employee, but the investigator did recommend 10 changes in county policies to prevent future problems. | Policy recommendations (PDF)

County Board Chairman Matt Sorensen said Robert Kearney, an attorney and associate professor of business administration at Illinois Wesleyan University who was hired by the county to conduct the investigation, determined "shortfalls exist" in the county's employment and personnel policies and practices.

If those shortfalls are not addressed, they "could open up the county to more liability," County Board Vice Chairman Dave Selzer said.

"The recommendations are so that in the future, employees and the county have equal protection against harassment," Selzer said.

Nuckolls' attorney, Jonathan Backman, said he supports Kearney's recommendations and the board's decision to accept the report.

"We believe the board's decision vindicates Mr. Nuckolls," Backman said. "He didn't violate any policies or laws of the county."

Two women - one who is an employee of the McLean County clerk's office - filed for orders of protection against Nuckolls in May, alleging he threatened and harassed them. The other woman works at Illinois State University, where Nuckolls is director of ISU's parking and transportation division.

The women know each other and Nuckolls outside of work.

No criminal charges have been filed against Nuckolls. There is a July 2 hearing date on the orders of protection. In the meantime, the two sides are attempting to reach a settlement.

The County Board hired Kearney to determine whether Nuckolls violated county policy. Cost of the investigation was $8,712.

Sorensen said that while the report did not mention censuring Nuckolls, it did point out weaknesses in some of the county's current procedures. Kearney's recommendations include: prohibiting County Board members from participating in job interviews for county positions; developing a system to publicly post all job openings; requiring board members and county supervisors to take part in supervisor training; and updating and strengthening the county's ethics policy.

The recommendations will be referred to the appropriate County Board committee for discussion.

County Clerk Peggy Ann Milton said: "I look forward to my oversight committee's recommendation with regard to this topic. I enthusiastically look forward to the training that's being recommended."

Sorensen said any policy changes ultimately adopted by the County Board would apply to all county offices, but there is little the board can do to force elected officials to follow the policies. The circuit clerk, auditor, county clerk, coroner, recorder, sheriff, county treasurer and state's attorney are elected.

Milton said she always confers with State's Attorney Bill Yoder about policies for her office.

"If different recommendations are made, I will absolutely cooperate," she said.