MANSFIELD — Richland County is moving ahead with plans for a fourth Common Pleas general division courtroom, using funds available through “lost revenue” provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act.
Commissioners authorized county Administrator Andrew Keller to prepare and issue a “request for qualifications” for an architect or engineer to design the new courtroom.
The decision came after a Thursday afternoon meeting with Judge Phil Naumoff and court administrator Tammy Wurthmann.
Both said the additional space is needed due to COVID-19 requirements, an increased number of jury trials and changes in state laws requiring speedier criminal arraignments and hearings.
It would be used by both judges and their three magistrates and would also provide extra space for the county prosecutor to conduct grand jury sessions.
Naumoff said the additional courtroom is needed, even though local COVID-19 caseloads are currently declining during a pandemic that began almost two years ago.
“The fourth courtroom has been a necessity,” he said. “COVID just hastened it.”
The fourth courtroom and offices will use space that will become available when the Clerk of Courts is moved to the former county jail space currently being demolished and renovated on L2.
Commissioners said Clerk of Courts Linda Frary supports the move, which will provide a larger space for her offices.
In January, commissioners were able to triple the amount of COVID-19 “lost revenue” they had previously claimed, thanks to a change in ARPA regulations.
The change, issued by the U.S. Treasury Dept. on Jan. 6, allows greater flexibility in how the federal money is spent, according to Keller.
The change allowed commissioners to claim $10 million in lost revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic, up from the $3.2 million they claimed in September 2021.
The county is receiving $23.4 million in total ARPA funding, divided equally between 2021 and 2022.
Commissioner Tony Vero pointed out the new regulations allow local entities to use the “lost revenue” under the broad umbrella of providing “government services.”
“We believe (providing more courtroom space) fits under the auspices of revenue loss,” Vero said.
A timetable for the project is difficult to project since work in the former jail is still underway and has been slowed by the discovery of uneven floors found when the cells were removed from the concrete.
“My gut tells me (the overall fourth courtroom project) will be complete two years from now,” Vero said. “I am not a construction expert, but that’s what my gut tells me.”
Naumoff said he and Judge Brent Robinson, who could not attend Thursday while presiding over a trial, understand the timetable is up in the air. The judges made the request for the new courtroom in May 2021.
“Obviously, we would like it as soon as possible. But we understand there are logistical problems. We will take it when we can get it,” he said.
Keller said once the architect/engineer is selected that the project will be designed and sent out for bids to contractors.
“This can be done as the demolition work (on L2) is ongoing,” he said. “We want this to be as seamless as possible in terms of moving the Clerk of Courts office and opening the new courtroom.”
