First state’s attorney spot remains vacant

The vacant position for a first assistant state’s attorney in McHenry County will remain frozen for at least the next two months.

The McHenry County Board on Tuesday tabled a request for $118,500 for the hire from McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi. Law and justice committee Chairman Nick Provenzano said Bianchi determined his office could operate without filling the position for the foreseeable future.

Provenzano said the office expected higher than normal workloads with the proliferation of high profile criminal cases in recent months.

But once trials began, the adjudication process moved along more swiftly than anticipated, Provenzano said.

“The position has been open for about two years with the county board and the law and justice office of the administrator deciding to keep the position flexible to save some money,” Provenzano said. “If the workload became excessive for the state’s attorney’s, then we would allow them to fill the position.”

“If (Bianchi) deems it necessary, he can come back and ask for funding,” McHenry County Chairman Ken Koehler said.

Provenzano said once the position is filled, funds would be reallocated from the general fund to the state’s attorney’s budget.

“Whether it was in the budget or not is irrelevant because he has the autonomy to determine the workload and personnel, within reason,” Provenzano said of Bianchi. “This falls within the purview of an elected official.”