As Courthouse Vote Nears, Concerns Linger Over Referendum
From the Quad Cities Online
With a vote just days away, Rock Island County officials on Thursday tried to address lingering concerns over a referendum that would give its public building commission the authority to relocate the county courthouse.
At a KeyStone Neighborhood-sponsored forum, Rock Island County residents once again directed questions to officials seeking to pass a ballot measure Tuesday that would expand the powers of the public building commission. If approved, the referendum would allow the commission to finance new county building projects.
With the 116-year-old courthouse slipping further into disrepair, Rock Island County Board Chairman Phil Banaszek has said the building is a legal liability that already costs the county $900,000 yearly in maintenance.
David O'Brien, of Rock Island, was concerned by the wording of the referendum, saying it leaves too few checks and balances for the county. He asked if it could be amended to ensure voters that spending was under control.
Chief 14th Judicial Circuit Judge Jeffrey O'Connor said the wording is dictated by a state law on public building commissions. He added the county has spending restrictions on any future building project.
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the Quad Cities Online
With a vote just days away, Rock Island County officials on Thursday tried to address lingering concerns over a referendum that would give its public building commission the authority to relocate the county courthouse.
At a KeyStone Neighborhood-sponsored forum, Rock Island County residents once again directed questions to officials seeking to pass a ballot measure Tuesday that would expand the powers of the public building commission. If approved, the referendum would allow the commission to finance new county building projects.
With the 116-year-old courthouse slipping further into disrepair, Rock Island County Board Chairman Phil Banaszek has said the building is a legal liability that already costs the county $900,000 yearly in maintenance.
David O'Brien, of Rock Island, was concerned by the wording of the referendum, saying it leaves too few checks and balances for the county. He asked if it could be amended to ensure voters that spending was under control.
Chief 14th Judicial Circuit Judge Jeffrey O'Connor said the wording is dictated by a state law on public building commissions. He added the county has spending restrictions on any future building project.
Read more in our daily News Update...