City of Medina past point of no return in courthouse project

MEDINA — County Administrator Scott Miller said Tuesday the Medina County Courthouse project has gone "past the point of no return" for the city of Medina. The city had been holding out a minuscule amount of hope to stay involved, but now it is prevented from joining the project on Public Square after Issue 7 passed Nov. 3. Medina Mayor Dennis Hanwell said previously the city explored the "legality" and "constitutionality" of the ballot language and the resulting effect on the city. He said he understands now is the time for the county to move on without the city due to the unusually low interest rates and construction costs. Miller said no vote was taken by the Medina County commissioners on the county flying solo with the project but said they "have stated we are going to do so. The city is aware of that. "We are past the point of no return. We are moving forward. There is no going back." Miller is the point man in the project for the county and still will answer to the commissioners. He said architect Brandstetter Carroll Inc., of Cleveland, is in the process of removing the fifth floor of the project in the schematic designs. He said the revised plans for four floors should be ready in early December. There will be additional charges coming from Brandstetter with all the changes and revisions that have been made. "Brandstetter has been put in a tough position with the multiple revisions," Miller said. The county administrator said after talking to construction manager at-risk Gilbane Building Co., it said the prices of materials are increasing, but contractors are bidding low to keep their crews busy. If the county is issued $30 million in debt for the project, the payments could be around $1.5 million a year. "Interest rates are better than expected," he said. "I have some ideas I will present to (the commissioners) in the next month. "Once (the architect makes its) changes, we can start honing in on a price. Once I have that, I can issue (the debt), probably at the beginning of next year." Construction is set to begin in the spring. The city wanted to move its municipal court operations from 135 N. Elmwood Ave. to the 1840 portion of the courthouse. Now, the city will have to renovate the municipal court, which officials think will cost more money than the $8 million it was going to raise for the project. Contact reporter Bob Finnan at (330) 721-4049 or rfinnan@medina-gazette.com.