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Illinois Third District Appellate Court May Hear Courthouse Case

The Peoria County judge who dismissed the Rock Island County courthouse case on March 19th, 2019 based her decision on the plain language of state law. 

Michelle O'Neill reports she also relied on a test case from three years ago, which was decided by a Henry County, Illinois judge.Radio story

Tenth Circuit Court Judge Jodi Hoos
Credit https://bit.ly/2Tx9bry
Tenth Circuit Court Judge Jodi Hoos

Tenth Circuit Judge Jodi Hoos said her ruling was not about whether the 122-year-old building should be demolished, but whether the plaintiffs established valid claims under the law.

Hoos agreed with the Rock Island County Board and Public Building Commission, saying:

  • Local governments are exempt from the Illinois State Agency Historic Resources Preservation Act.
  • State law says the Public Building Commission has the authority to demolish buildings.
  • And it's legal for bond funds to be spent on the demolition of the courthouse. That part of Hoos's decision is based on a 2015 ruling in which a Henry County judge said building the proposed justice center annex is within the authority of the Public Building Commission. At last week's hearing, Judge Hoos said, "Common sense tells you if it is the purpose of the commission to build the new courthouse, how is it not the same purpose to tear the old one down?"


The plaintiffs now hope the Third District Appellate Court in Ottawa will hear their appeal.

Meantime, a crane and wrecking ball are parked next to the courthouse waiting for a decision. 

Read the transcript of the hearing on motions to dismiss below:  Rock Island Co 19 Ch 40 Lan... by on Scribd

Copyright 2021 WVIK, Quad Cities NPR. To see more, visit WVIK, Quad Cities NPR.

View (from the 3rd floor of the new annex )of the west side of the Rock Island County courthouse with a crane & boom parked beside it
Michelle O'Neill / WVIK News
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WVIK News
View (from the 3rd floor of the new annex )of the west side of the Rock Island County courthouse with a crane & boom parked beside it

Officially, Michelle's title is WVIK News Editor which really just means she wears many hats, doing everything there is to do in the newsroom and around the radio station. She's a multimedia journalist and serves as Assignment Editor, reporter, radio news producer, copy editor, announcer, news anchor/host, and photographer. She also writes and produces content for WVIK.org and social media.In recent broadcast journalism contests, Michelle's work contributed to WVIK winning various awards for excellence in both Illinois and Iowa. Tweets by MichelleONeilll