Courthouse issue remains contentious in city of Medina

MEDINA — City of Medina voters say they were confused by the wording of Issue 7 in the general election in November. That confusion has not gone away and has followed the controversial topic all the way to the primary election on May 4 as opponents and proponents of the new county courthouse fiercely fight for the city's involvement in the project. One hundred political signs have recently popped up all over the city from the Preserve and Make Medina History Committee, which is advocating for the passage of Issue 1. However, they shouldn't be confused with signage from the Save Your Courthouse Committee. "That was the decision by the committee," said Medina At-Large Councilman Paul Rose, chairman of the committee. "That is exactly what we are doing, saving the courthouse and stopping government waste." The city's committee signs have prompted the Save Your Courthouse Committee to question the wording of the slogans. Attorney Pat Walker, who has spearheaded the nonpartisan Save Your Courthouse Committee along with her husband, attorney Ralph Jocke, said her signs are bright red with a stop sign and read "Vote No" and "Stop Government Waste." Rose and Medina resident Nathan Case are on the six-person city committee. Rose said he wants to get the truth out to the voters. One topic that irks him is saying the city is trying to overturn the vote from November. "We're doing exactly what they asked us to do: Go to the voters," Rose said. "We're not trying to overturn their vote." The city is asking voters to pass the issue on May 4 to allow it to move Medina Municipal Court into the 1969 portion of the Medina County Courthouse. Issue 7 last November, which passed by a 2-to-1 margin, prevented the city from spending any money on the shared courthouse project. After that election, the city regrouped and has decided to try again. It's the city's belief that it will save money by moving into the 1969 courthouse rather than renovating the current building at 135 N. Elmwood Ave. Rose said moving the municipal court to the 1969 courthouse on the square would cost an estimated $5 million with $4.3 million coming from the court's special projects fund. If the city renovated the current municipal court building, it could cost as much as $9 million to $11 million. One proposal to build a second level on the building wouldn't work, Medina Mayor Dennis Hanwell said, because the court couldn't operate while construction was going on above it. So, it would have to move out for a time being and then move back. "We are not going to have to borrow any money (to move to the 1969 courthouse)," Rose said. Walker has taken shots at the city regarding the Liberty View apartments, first saying the city was going to give the developer, Rose Co., the land in which to build. "That's not factual," Hanwell said. He said it's a land lease and Rose will have to pay $4,000 a year for 50 years to build on that property. Also, Walker said tenants from the apartments will get reserved parking spots in the city's parking garage, which city officials said is also not true. The deck cost the city $3.8 million to build, but $1 million came from a state capital grant. The rest of the deck will be paid through a TIF, which is special financing. Rose had strong words for Walker during the April 12 Council meeting and called her a "liar." He's not backing down from those pointed comments, he said Wednesday. "These are bold-face lies by Pat Walker," Rose said. "We need to put these people in their place." Originally, the county was going to demolish the 1969 courthouse, but changed its stance. The Save Your Courthouse Committee fought against it, even after it wasn't going to be torn down. Hanwell said another issue with Walker's group was that it said the county wouldn't move forward with the project unless the city was involved, but that wasn't true. In fact, the county is starting the project as early as next month, whether the city passes Issue 1. "We spend 90 percent of the time fighting misinformation," Hanwell said. "Talk about government waste." Walker has filed numerous lawsuits against the city over the matter, some going to the Ohio Supreme Court. The mayor said the city has been trying to upgrade the municipal court for almost 20 years. It is required to provide suitable accommodations for the court by state law. By moving to the 1969 courthouse, Hanwell said he believes moving to the square is the best option for the municipal court, the city and taxpayers. Walker said the Preserve and Make Medina History Committee's signs "are confusing to a lot of people." Even with the opposition campaign against her efforts to stop the project, Walker said she feels pretty good about the election. "We've been talking to a number of people and we believe the majority don't want to spend $5 million to move into the court," she said. "But there is no sure thing (in an election). A lot can happen in the next 13 days." Contact reporter Bob Finnan at (330) 721-4049 or rfinnan@medina-gazette.com.