Rock Island County

The search for an administrator for Rock Island County is nearly over. Four candidates will be interviewed on Monday.

Rock Island County will continue to own its nursing home, but it'll be run by a professional manager, with a governing board of local residents. That was the decision Tuesday night by the county board after more than a year of discussion.

The Rock Island County board may soon decide what to do with the county nursing home. Last week, board members discussed four options for the Hope Creek Care Center in East Moline, and a vote is possible Tuesday night.

Rock Island County is going to borrow some money to make sure it can pay its bills early next year. Tuesday night, the county board approved issuing tax anticipation warrants for up to 2 million dollars.

Volunteers in Morrison and Silvis have been recognized for improving their communities. Last week, Governor Pat Quinn announced the winners of the thirty-second annual Governor's Hometown Awards. Volunteers in Morrison were honored for building a new recreational trail. Spokeswoman Ann Slavin says the Morrison-Rockwood Trail has been in the works for sixteen years. Residents and local businesses helped pay for the project, and volunteered to create and preserve the trail. 

Slavin says the second half of the trail will be finished once the group raises $200,000. 

With the new fiscal year just two weeks away, the Rock Island County board has finished work on a new budget. Tuesday night, it gave its final approval to spending about 75 million dollars in the coming year.

As the election approaches, the two parties are fighting over absentee and early voting in Rock Island County.

This week on Midwest Week, help is on the way for anyone trying to keep up with the problems, and changes, in Rock Island County government.Eric Timmons has been covering the story for the Dispatch and Rock Island Argus, and he's Herb Trix's guest.