County asks judge to reject state fine
McHenry County is suing the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board, asking a judge to overturn a $30,000 fine imposed by the agency last year in connection with the county's construction of a new Valley Hi nursing home.
The suit, filed this week in McHenry County Circuit Court, claims the state agency did not give the county proper notice of allegations it failed to provide a mandatory final report detailing the $14 million nursing home's construction -- or the possibility of a fine.
Notice of the allegations, First Assistant McHenry County State's Attorney Thomas Carroll said, was addressed last year to "County Board Chairman Michael Tryon." Tryon, now a state representative, has not been county board chairman since 2004.
"They didn't give the county of McHenry proper notice," Carroll said. "If a judge agrees, we'll get our day in court and can show whether or not the county should have been fined."
Carroll said his office is investigating whether county officials failed, or were late, in getting the final report to the health board.
Planning board attorney Frank Urso could not be reached for comment Thursday.
The suit is scheduled to make its first court appearance May 21 before McHenry County Judge Maureen McIntyre.