The Rock Island County Board and its Public Building Commission are fighting to retain the right to tear down the courthouse. This month, Landmarks Illinois and other historic preservation groups filed a lawsuit and requested a temporary restraining order to prevent demolition.
Today, the board and commission filed several items including motions to dismiss the case and resistance to the temporary restraining order. Exhibits filed with the Rock Island County Board's resistance motion include:
- Board resolutions for the Public Building Commission to demolish the courthouse,
- Chief Judge Walter Braud's administrative order to tear it down immediately, along with numerous applications, permits, and letters about construction of the annex and demolition plans,
- And a Henry County judge's 2016 ruling that the county board and commission have the authority to build an annex to the Criminal Justice Center and jail.
Peoria County Judge Jodi Hoos has been assigned to the case. But no court hearings have been scheduled yet.
