Late this week, Rock Island County will start moving out of the old courthouse and into a new annex to the criminal justice center. This afternoon, county officials held a grand opening for the three-story building located on Third Avenue in downtown Rock Island.
Chief Judge Walter Braud says he did not run from the fight to build the new, $28 million addition, and that it was "essentially tax-free, around $0.30 a month, or something."
The county broke ground on the annex early last year. At the time, architect, Jake Davis from DLR Group, says material and labor costs were increasing. And instead of six courtrooms, the new addition only has four. Parts of the Rock Island County Criminal Justice Center were renovated, and he says that took the edge off the reductions in the original plan.
The annex also includes offices for court administration, the circuit clerk, and state's attorney, plus other secure areas for suspects. The Rock Island County Recorder of Deeds is the only office currently in the courthouse that will not move into the new annex. Judge Braud says the office will move into the county administration building later this month.
