Meacham to release financial study of Oakhill on Wednesday

YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning County Auditor Ralph T. Meacham will conduct a news conference at 9 a.m. Wednesday in the county courthouse basement meeting room to discuss financial information pertaining to Oakhill Renaissance Place.

Meacham, who became auditor in March 2015, will release his findings concerning the county’s costs of acquiring and renovating Oakhill.

He will also discuss the costs of operating the building, which is now about half-occupied, and the extent to which those costs are defrayed by rents paid to the county by Oakhill’s tenants.

Meacham, who is a certified public accountant, said he doesn’t expect to make any recommendations at the news conference, but he has said the county needs to plan for Oakhill’s future.

Oakhill, which was built in stages between 1910 and 1972, is the former Forum Health Southside Medical Center.

The county bought the former hospital in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in 2006 and moved its Department of Job and Family Services there the following year.

Besides JFS, the Oakhill complex now houses the county coroner’s office, veterans’ service commission, board of elections, auto title department and recycling division.

Major tenants include the city health department and Head Start.