Rock Island Today

Rock Island County Board member Drue Mielke questions the judgment involved in using a loophole to build, of all things, a new courthouse in Rock Island.

Mielke said that after a proposal for a new courthouse failed in a referendum, some judges threatened to sue the municipality because current courthouse rooms did not meet size standards. The board, however, refused to put the issue on the ballot a second time.

“If it didn't fly the first time; it's not going to fly the second time,” Mielke said.

drue mielke

Then, in the move Mielke disagrees with, some public officials turned to the little-used Public Building Commission (PBC), which has the power only to authorize the building of prisons. By including holding cells in the plans, though, the panel was able to approve construction of the courthouse without going to the voters.

The right call, Mielke said, would have been to expand the power of the PBC to authorize a courthouse rather than trying to do an end run around the regulations. And although the current price tag of $28 million is quite a bit below the initial estimated costs of $75 million, Mielke said many voters still have questions.

“People hold their elected officials accountable,” he said. “(Officials) circumvented the will of the people; they did not get voter approval.”

Mielke's criticism has included op-eds and articles in the local papers.

“Reform is more than smaller government and removing perks,” Mielke wrote. “It’s also about how we do business being up-front with the people.”

Mielke estimated that the court offices will be moved to the new building within 18 months. As for the current courthouse – a historic and familiar landmark – Mielke said he wouldn't rule out demolition, although no such plans are currently in place.