BLOOMINGTON - The former chief deputy of the McLean County clerk's office has filed a harassment lawsuit against County Clerk Peggy Ann Milton.

Maria Pascua, chief deputy until her resignation in late June, filed the complaint with the county Sept. 22, according to McLean County Administrator John Zeunik. He declined to disclose details of the complaint.

An investigation has started into Pascua's complaint. Illinois Wesleyan University's business department chairman, Robert Kearney, is handling the probe. Kearney headed an investigation earlier this year into the county's handling of a complaint by one of Milton's workers against a County Board member.

Bloomington attorney Jason Chambers has been appointed by the court to represent Milton in three employment-related matters.

Chambers was named because State's Attorney Bill Yoder has a conflict in representing Milton. The county clerk recently filed a lawsuit against Yoder after Milton was acquitted last year of charges accusing her of stealing county-issued stamps and the services of office workers.

"Peggy Ann Milton is eager to have these issues addressed. She doesn't want this to linger any longer than it needs to," Chambers told The Pantagraph on Thursday.

Since her departure in late June, Pascua has remained on the county payroll as a part-time deputy clerk at $27.16 per hour to help with the transition of a new clerk, said Zeunik. The arrangement to pay Pascua her previous hourly wage for the part-time job that normally pays $12.19 per hour was questioned by Zeunik.

"When this arrangement came up to our office, we questioned it because a part-time, seasonal employee was not given pay comparable to what others are being paid," said Zeunik.

Milton assured county officials that Pascua's work would be limited to about one day per week and would be temporary. Zeunik said he expects Pascua's assistance to be finished by the end of the month.

Recent county payroll records indicate that Pascua's schedule has met the county's expectations.

Pascua is the second former employee to file a complaint against the county clerk. Last month, former clerk Betsy Cowan filed a request for overtime time with the state labor department. She said employees were not paid for after-hours meetings.

Chambers said he will handle Pascua's case, Cowan's petition and a third complaint that may be filed by another employee.