Rock Island County is exploring the possibility of buying the Bituminous building in downtown Rock Island, to consolidate offices and close the aging county courthouse in the coming years.
"The County is exploring multiple options to save taxpayer money in both the short and long-term. One of the options we are considering is the consolidation of several buildings into one building," said County Administrator Dave Ross, in an emailed response to WQAD News 8.
Ross says the Bituminous building is available for sale to the County for $1, plus realtor costs of about $67,000.
Several county officials have already toured the building. The county is moving forward with a plan for an annex to the Justice Center, but will need more space for other offices, if the courthouse is eventually closed.
The county is exploring the feasibility of moving the health department, probation department, coroner's office, and recorder's office from their current locations into the Bituminous building.
However, Ross says, the minimum total cost to renovate the space to suit the county's needs is an estimated $2.5 million dollars.
Under the plan, the county would look at selling the public health department building it owns near Unity Point Hospital in Rock Island to help pay for the purchase, but the appraised value still falls short of what is needed.
Ross says the county is exploring options to find the funding for the Bituminous building, as well as looking at other alternatives.