FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The Broward County mayor has recommended the establishment of a task force to make a plan to repair the county courthouse, which will be closed through Friday after a water main broke.

The water main broke on Sunday night, sending water gushing into offices at the courthouse, damaging the phone system and soaking important legal records in the Clerk of Courts' office.

Crews worked Tuesday to try to rebuild the phone and communication system, set up a temporary phone system and dry the files. The carpets in the Clerk of Courts' office must be pulled up.

Officials announced Tuesday that the Broward County Main Judicial Complex in downtown Fort Lauderdale will remain closed to the public through Friday. People can still file petitions for restraining orders in Room 248, and the first appearance court is still open.

The Broward County commission discussed the problem on Tuesday.

"It is not our fault. The courthouse is the way it is. It cannot be fixed today. It will not be fixed patchwork," said Broward County Mayor Stacy Ritter.

The chief judge has pushed for the building of a new complex. Voters shot down a $340 million bond issue to build a new judicial complex.

"Unless the users of that facility and the majority of people in Broward County aren't, they can't feel our pain," said Commissioner Lois Wexler.

"I'm the one who took the comments from citizens who said, 'Isn't this where criminals are tried? We don't care what the facility looks like,'" said Commissioner Ilene Lieberman.

Sunday was not the first time pipes had burst in the courthouse. The judicial process has come to a standstill, and with the building closed for at least five days, this is the most serious incident.

"If you believe in your heart of hearts, as I do, that we need a new courthouse, you keep putting it on the ballot, every ballot, until it passes," said Commissioner John Rodstrom.

"Just wait until the public starts getting a bill for the lawsuits that are surely going to come from mold sickness and others. When they start getting those bills, they'll understand that they should've gone ahead and voted to have a courthouse," said Commissioner John Eggelletion.

The county mayor has recommended the creation of a courthouse task force made up of people who work in the building, including judges. The task force would come up with an option that the public can deal with.

The vice mayor wants to look for money in other places, including funds earmarked for other projects in Broward County.

The county commission will discuss and vote on Ritter's proposal to create a task force at a meeting on Dec. 9.