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No. The City's Corporation Counsel does not represent individuals in private legal matters and is not authorized to give legal advice to the public. Corporation Counsel for the City of Moline represents City officials and employees in matters arising out of the course of their duties and City departments and agencies in the course of their business as City entities. The Legal Services Specialist is available to answer inquiries about City ordinances and to refer complainants to the appropriate City department when allegations of ordinance violations are received or as other requests for services are generated. If you need assistance with a private matter, two services may be of assistance. Both Help Legal Assistance and Prairie State Legal Services offer legal assistance to qualifying low-income individuals or families. Help Legal Assistance is located at 736 Federal Street in Davenport, Iowa; the telephone number is 563.322.6216. Prairie State Legal Services is located at 1600 4th Avenue, Suite 200, Rock Island, IL 61201; the telephone number is 309.794.1328. If you do not meet the income requirements of Help Legal Assistance or Prairie State Legal Services, you may contact the Lawyer Referral Service at 563.324.1772.
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Most public information can be obtained upon request. However, there are times when a Freedom of Information Request Form (FOIA) is required to obtain information. Once you have submitted a FOIA Request, you will receive a reply within 5 business days, and in some instances, a 10-business day response may be necessary. FOIA requests for commercial requests will receive a reply within 21 business days of receipt of the request. A statutory fee of $.15 per page will be charged for all requests containing fifty (50) or more pages. Also, if you would like your FOIA certified, a fee of $1.00 applies. All responses will be provided via U.S. Mail unless arranged otherwise. A FOIA request form is available through the Legal Division, City Hall, 619 - 16th Street. Contact Amanda Rodell at 309.524.2015. Forms are also available at the City Clerk’s office, 619 - 16th Street, 309.524.2004, or on the City's website.
Pursuant to the authority of the International Property Maintenance Code, Chapter 3-302.8, any inoperable, abandoned and/or unlicensed motor vehicle parked, kept or stored on any private property exterior premises will be tagged with a Notice to remove the vehicle generally.
If the violation is not timely corrected, the owner will be issued a Notice to Appear at the Municipal Code Enforcement System (MUNICES) before a hearing officer. The minimum fine for such a violation is $100 plus court costs.
If you would like to report an abandoned/inoperable vehicle on private property, please contact Neighborhood Improvement Officer Brad Hauman at 309.524.2014 or via email at bhauman@moline.il.us.
The Moline Code of Ordinances ("Code") can be found online. The Code is routinely codified as ordinances are adopted by the Moline City Council. Copies of the Code are also available for viewing at the City Clerk’s office, City Hall, 619 16th Street, Moline, IL 61265. The City Clerk may be reached at 309.524.2004. Questions regarding the Code may be directed to Amy Saunders, Legal Services Specialist, at 309.524.2012.
"Neighbor disputes" often do not involve issues that have a municipal aspect to them or do not involve a violation of the City's Code of Ordinances. The City encourages everyone to remember that we are all individuals, and as individuals we enjoy a wide variety of differing interests and activities that may or may not mix well with those of our neighbors. Getting to know your neighbors and friendly communication with them may reduce potential conflicts and problems. If you are not sure if your situation involves a violation of the Moline Code of Ordinances, you should document the facts of the situation and contact the Police Department at 309.797.0401 or the Neighborhood Improvement Officer at 309.524.2014 for assistance.
A Notice and Order is an official written notification from the City of violations that need to be corrected before a given compliance deadline. A Courtesy Notice is generally the same notification of a Notice and Order but is aimed specifically at nuisances with a seven-day compliance deadline. These notices are generated by the City's Neighborhood Improvement Officer (NIO) upon receipt of a complaint about a property and verification that the condition of the property violates the City's minimum property maintenance standards. If you have received a Notice and Order or a Courtesy Notice and have specific questions, you may email Neighborhood Improvement Officer Brad Hauman or call him at 309.524.2014.
If you were issued a City of Moline ordinance violation citation and have general questions regarding same, please view the Ordinance Violation webpage. If you have additional questions, please contact the Legal Services Specialist at 309.524.2012.
The Rental Housing Inspection Program was implemented in 2007 to promote and protect the health, safety and welfare of residents by providing for the registration of rental units, buildings and properties, and the periodic inspection to ensure such properties meet the minimum standards established by the City's housing, electric, mechanical, plumbing and other property maintenance-related codes.
For questions or information regarding the Rental Housing and Inspections Program, view the webpage.
For ordinance violation cases, you are not required to have an attorney present in Rock Island Circuit Court nor will a public attorney be appointed to your case. Each individual ordered to appear in Rock Island Circuit Court must use his or her own discretion in deciding whether to hire an attorney to defend his or her case. Please be advised that the attorneys who represent the City of Moline in ordinance violation cases act as prosecutors for the City of Moline and cannot provide you with legal advice.
The City will close its case against you once a Court fine has been paid in full, public service work has been satisfactorily completed, or upon successful completion of the Peer Justice Program. The Peer Justice Program is available for first time ordinance violation offenders under the age of 18.
The City’s Corporation Counsel do not authorize community service work; it is only granted by the Court’s presiding judge. To request community service work as a penalty for your offense, you must appear in Court on or before your scheduled court date and time.
Many ordinance violation offenses carry a minimum fine that will be imposed if you plead or are found guilty and a fine is ordered by the Court. Those fines are varied. A chart containing the City's minimum fines for ordinance violation offenses may be found in Chapter 2 of the Moline Code of Ordinances. In addition to the minimum fine, you will be charged court costs by the Court. Court costs range from $100 upward depending on the amount of the fine imposed.
Juveniles must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty with the Rock Island Circuit Court.
Payment must be in the form of cash, money order, certified check, cashier's check, credit/debit card or a personal check containing a check number of 500 or higher. The Circuit Court charges a fee for debit/credit card payments.
If your neighbor's tree branches are encroaching onto your property, first attempt to discuss the problem with your neighbor to determine if an amicable solution is possible. If not, the law may allow you to cut that part of the branch that is hanging over onto your property, so long as no permanent damage is done to your neighbor's tree. The law does not permit you, however, to go on to your neighbor's property and cut the branch, or cut any branches or parts thereof that are located on your neighbor's property. For clarification of the rights and responsibilities involved, or if your property has been damaged because of falling branches from a neighbor's tree and you wish to seek payment for damages, you should seek the services of a private attorney, as a tree on private property is generally considered a private matter.
Per Sec. 32-1100(c) of the Moline Code of Ordinances, weeds, grass and/or vegetation exceeding 10" in height and/or obstructing the view of pedestrians or vehicular traffic are subject to code enforcement activities by the City. When an inspector identifies a violation, a courtesy notice is sent to the property owner giving them 7 days to clean-up the violation. If the vegetation is not cleaned-up, a City contractor will be sent to abate the vegetation/weeds and the property owner will be billed for the service, plus a $100 administrative fee for each violation occurrence. Obtain a Weed & Vegetation Appeal Form. To report a weed nuisance, call Neighborhood Improvement Officer Brad Hauman at 309.524.2014 or contact him via email at bhauman@moline.il.us.