Major features of City-owned and operated facilities and services are listed below.  

Community & Economic Development

• Active low-interest business loan program with over $9 million in lending
• Award winning historic preservation programs
• Building plan review and inspection based on adopted national model codes
• Five tax increment finance districts
• Housing rehabilitation programs targeted toward older neighborhoods
• Neighborhood outreach including print and email publications and support for neighborhood organizations
• Planning / Zoning services for effective regulation of land uses
• State certified Enterprise Zone

Finance

• Annual audit
• Annual budget
• Bill collection
• Grants
• Payroll and pensions
• Taxes

Fire

• Four stations
• 58 firefighters

Human Resources

• Benefits administration and contract negotiations
• Centralized copier service, purchasing, cable television, and mail service
• Employee assistance program and group health plans
• Liability insurance program including workers’ compensation
• Public access channel
• Recruitment, orientation, and training
• Risk management

Information Technology Department

• Provide free wireless internet access at various locations through the City of Rock Island
• VOIP (voice over internet protocol telephony)
• Networking Infrastructure

Library

• Downloadable e-books and other tools
• Online research and learning tools to use from your own home computer
• Print, audio, and video resources for checkout at three locations
• Public computing, including internet and Wi-Fi access

Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center

• Dedicated to working toward creating a positive community image, strengthening family relationships and neighborhoods, while celebrating the City’s cultural and ethnic diversity
• Flexible and responsible organization that will help develop all citizens
• Provides opportunities for a diverse population through a variety of programs and services

Parks

• $4.2 million family aquatic center built in 2001
• 26 parks which encompass 850 acres of parks
• Rock Island Fitness and Activity Center, recently expanded
• Two major 18-hole golf courses

Police

• Enhanced 911 emergency response system
• 83 sworn personnel

Public Works

• $55 million upgrade to wastewater treatment facilities in process
• Curbside recycling provided on a subscription basis
• Residential refuse collection provided on a weekly basis
• Two wastewater treatment facilities (main City and Southwest)
• Wastewater system with 185 miles of sanitary and combined sewers
• Water plant capacity of 16 million gallons per day; average production of 5.4 million gallons per day
• Water system with over 226 miles of water mains and Mississippi River as the source