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Agreement reached on relocating Youngstown Muni Court
YOUNGSTOWN
The three branches of city government have come to an agreement to relocate the municipal court facility to the city hall annex by late 2017.
City council authorized the board of control Wednesday to enter into an agreement with the court to spend up to $7,750,000, including $7.1 million on improving the annex and making it the city courthouse. The rest of the money is going toward architectural designs and retaining a project manager.
The deal comes six years after municipal court judges filed a complaint with the Ohio Supreme Court over the court’s conditions on the second floor of city hall and demanded an improved facility.
The dispute over court facilities goes back about 15 years.
“We’re thankful for everyone’s patience and pleased we came to an agreement that is beneficial to everyone,” said Robert P. Milich, the court’s administrative and presiding judge. “We look forward to getting the project started.”
Mayor John A. McNally said, “It was one of my priorities to get this resolved with a fair decision for everyone. I’m pleased we were able to do that.”
Olsavsky Jaminet Architects Inc. of Youngstown will be paid $595,000 to design the court facility, with that work to be done by November. Also, Paul J. Ricciuti, a Youngstown architect, will serve as project manager on behalf of the administration to help control costs. He’ll be paid $49,500.
The settlement agreement spells out the details of the project and a time line.
The annex, at 9 W. Front St., is in immediate need of a new roof, with that work expected to be done before the fall, according to the agreement.
Proposals for the construction phase will be opened Jan. 31, 2016, with construction starting in March.
The deal calls for the court to provide 90 percent of the $3 million it collected in special assessment fees for construction costs. In addition to that $2.7 million, the court would also give 90 percent of what it receives from those two funds annually on Jan. 31 from 2017 to 2036 to offset the costs.
McNally estimates those payments in total to be about $2 million. The city would borrow the money for the new court over a 20-year period, he said.
When the court leaves the second floor of city hall, various city agencies, including the community planning and economic development department, would move there, McNally said. Also, the police department would use portions of that floor, he said.
Meanwhile, council declined Wednesday to vote on a plan to streamline the city’s laws on obtaining permits for parades, block parties and other events on public streets and right of ways.
Some council members wanted specific information on fees and deposits for events, which hasn’t been finalized by the city administration, and assurances that block parties and smaller events wouldn’t be subject to those costs.
Council also didn’t vote on raising the city’s motor-vehicle-license fee from $5 to $10 and on a plan to bill downtown business owners at least $150 if they fail to remove snow and ice from the front of their properties by 7 a.m. the day after a snowstorm.
Some members of council want downtown business owners to work together to resolve the issue.
“I haven’t seen anyone step forward to offer suggestions,” McNally said.