Deal to move Youngstown Muni Court nearing completion

YOUNGSTOWN

Six years after Youngstown Municipal Court judges filed a complaint with the Ohio Supreme Court over the court’s conditions and demanded an improved facility, a deal to relocate to the city hall annex should be done next week.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Judge Elizabeth A. Kobly.

Mayor John A. McNally said he expects to have the agreement in front of city council for a vote at its June 3 meeting.

“We can finally put this litigation between the court and the administration to rest,” he said.

The judges in January 2009 filed a journal entry ordering then-Mayor Jay Williams and city council to provide adequate court facilities, adding that a renovated city hall annex, at 9 W. Front St., would be suitable. The current court facilities are on the second floor of city hall at 26 S. Phelps St.

In May 2009, the judges filed with the state Supreme Court.

During discussions, the judges sought $8 million worth of improvements to the annex, while the city countered with a scaled-down $6 million renovation.

The estimated cost of improving and relocating the court to the annex is $7.1 million with the financial terms finalized shortly, McNally said.

Read more about the situation in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.