BLOOMINGTON - A local employment attorney will investigate a harassment complaint against County Clerk Peggy Ann Milton. On Tuesday, the McLean County Board hired Robert Kearney to investigate a complaint filed Sept. 22 by Maria Pascua, a former chief deputy clerk who is currently employed as a contract worker in the clerk's office. | Labor department rejects OT claim against Milton

Kearney will be paid $242 an hour plus expenses.

County Administrator John Zeunik doesn't know how long it will take for the current investigation.

"The difficult part with any of these investigations is we don't know where they will lead," Zeunik said.

Pascua resigned in June from the clerk's office.

Kearney, the business department chairman at Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, previously investigated a complaint against County Board member Robert Nuckolls of Bloomington. The board hired Kearney to determine whether Nuckolls violated county policy after an employee of Milton's office filed a complaint against Nuckolls.

Kearney provided a list of suggestions for the County Board to improve its employment policies but he found that Nuckolls did not violate county policies.

The total cost of that investigation was $10,406.

In addition to legal fees for Kearney, Zeunik said the county will pay bills for attorneys Jason Chambers and John Schwulst to represent Milton.

Milton is suing State's Attorney Bill Yoder. She is seeking reimbursement for $43,000 in legal fees she incurred while defending herself last year of charges accusing her of stealing county-issued stamps and the services of office workers. She was acquitted at a jury trial.

As a result, Yoder previously disqualified himself from involvement in investigating or defending Milton, citing a conflict of interest. His office also serves as the attorney for county officials.

Chambers, from the Bloomington law firm Chambers and Wong, was appointed to represent Milton in three pending personnel matters. In addition to Pascua's complaint, former clerk Betsy Cowan filed a request for overtime pay, which the state labor department recently rejected, and a third complaint may be filed by another employee.

Meanwhile Schwulst, a Bloomington attorney with Schwulst and Roseberry, has been appointed to consult with Milton when she has a question regarding interpretation of the state laws that govern how she does her job.

Board appointment

In unrelated action, the board appointed John D. McIntyre, 812 Karin Drive, Normal, to the vacant seat in District 6. Dave Selzer resigned in August because his family moved out of town.

About two years remain on the term. McIntyre served on the board from 1980 to 1986.