Seyller’s attorney ‘optimistic’ deal can be made

The two sides in the long-simmering feud over Kane County Circuit Court Clerk expenses hope to resolve their differences before the matter turns into a full-fledged boil.

The attorney for Circuit Court Clerk Deb Seyller said both sides are working toward a settlement over Seyller’s request for $550,000 in additional funds for last year’s budget.

The Kane County Board rejected Seyller’s request for money to pay 11 additional employees, and that move ultimately prompted a lawsuit last fall.

“The parties are not in mediation but those parties are working together to see if the case can be resolved,” said attorney Dean Frieders, who would not elaborate but added that he was “optimistic.”

The case was due in court this week and a new date of June 1 was set.

Asked what would happen if both sides failed to reach an agreement by then, Frieders said, “I’m not really in a position to speculate on that.”

Added Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay: “It’s moving in the right direction.”

Claudette Miller, an attorney at Ungaretti and Harris, a law firm hired by the county for the lawsuit, said both sides have had preliminary discussions.

“We are talking,” Miller said. “We would like to resolve this amicably. I’m not making any predictions, but I am hopeful. It’s very early.”

An appellate court panel has ruled that Seyller can use money from a special clerk’s fund to pay for automation and other services can be used to pay additional payroll until the case is adjudicated.