Kane County settles circuit court clerk lawsuit

The meter on taxpayer dollars spent to fund a lawsuit between Kane County and Kane County Circuit Court Clerk Deb Seyller stopped Tuesday evening as both sides agreed to a settlement.

Settlement details will not be revealed until, possibly, Wednesday’s scheduled court date.

Lawyers for both sides met with Chief Judge F. Keith Brown Tuesday. The conclusion of those negotiations led right into a special Kane County Board meeting Tuesday night. The board ratified the settlement with only board member Deb Allan voting “no.”

Allan said she voted against the settlement because of the lack of detail being made public.

“I’m really uncomfortable with us not seeing something,” Allan said.

Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay hailed the vote as ending a legal battle taxpayers have funded on both sides. As of June, the last time the legal fees were reported, the lawsuit had cost taxpayers more than $460,000.

That compares to the initial disagreement over $560,000 in additional funds Seyller asked for to meet payroll and run her office at what she deemed to be a minimum level to fulfill legal mandates.

“Congratulations to the county for bringing to an end a long battle that, as of today, will no longer cost the taxpayers any more money,” McConnaughay said.

Seyller was not present for the county board’s vote.