YOUNGSTOWN Council committee discusses funds for new municipal court building

The council committee wants to talk with city officials about borrowing.
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- City officials will meet again next month to advance talks about a new municipal court building.
Municipal Court Judge Robert Douglas told city council's buildings and grounds committee Wednesday that the court has saved $756,000 over the past five years toward a new building. The court collects about $12,000 a month in fees that are dedicated to paying for a new building, he said.
The courts have hired an architect. Judges soon expect to see specifications and designs for a roughly $6 million project, he said. Judge Douglas said there are two downtown sites in mind but refused to identify them.
Borrowing through county?
Councilman Rufus Hudson, D-2nd, the committee chairman, is asking that the city consider borrowing money through Mahoning County to make such a project happen.
The city recently had a deal to borrow $2.75 million through the county treasurer for an addition to the state office building. That project ultimately used another financing plan, but Hudson said the concept remains a good one.
The council committee wants to meet Oct. 8 with city finance officials about the possible borrowing.
The committee also expects to review the court's proposed project and talk with downtown's redevelopment agency about potential sites for a new court.
Hudson has proposed demolishing dilapidated buildings owned by the Youngstown Central Area Community Improvement Corp. and replacing them with the new court.
Besides court money and borrowing, last year council pledged to dedicate some of the city's capital improvement money toward a new court.
rgsmith@vindy.com