MANSFIELD — Josh Hicks took over as the Richland County maintenance superintendent in May 2022 — just in time to oversee the biggest remodeling project in the history of the 58-year-old county courthouse.
Suffice to say it was a challenging time during the last four years for Hicks, who worked with county administrator Andrew Keller and multiple contractors on projects that touched all five floors of the building at 50 Park Ave. East and totaled around $5.3 million.
Hicks and Keller were both in attendance on Tuesday morning as the county’s Board of Commissioners unveiled a new, 4:33 video showcasing the improvements.
(Below is a video produced by DRM Productions in Mansfield showing improvements at the Richland County Courthouse.)
“This has been a long project,” Keller said. “Folks (watching the video) will see the stark contrast between the before and the after for these building improvements.”
Commissioners have stressed no debt was incurred for the work, which used American Rescue Plan Act funds and also Richland County capital improvement money.
“Some might ask why these critical updates weren’t contracted for on Day One when the commissioners came into office. It’s a fair question, but the answer is simple … a balanced budget,” Keller said.
“Debt avoidance and protecting taxpayers is our first priority. The reality of this approach means we sometimes have to be patient in delivering public projects.
“We wouldn’t do it any other way. But in the end, we have a public asset we can all be very proud of,” the administrator said.
Commissioner Darrell Banks praised the work done by Hicks.
“For four years, there seemed to be a never-ending amount of problems, whether it be getting materials … all kinds of problems … and it just kept all the time coming up and (Hicks) handled that.
“He got through it, kept things moving, and that’s why we’re able to get this done,” Banks said.
The renovation project began as a request from Richland County Common Pleas Court judges Phil Naumoff and Brent Robinson for a fourth courtroom in 2021. That project triggered a series of improvements since the work began.
What exactly has been done in the last four years?
— A new Clerk of Courts office and space for grand jury sessions created on a floor that once housed the county jail.
— A new fourth courtroom for Common Pleas Court where the former clerk’s office once stood.
— Renovated commons areas on four of the five floors and bathrooms on all five floors.
— Most recently, the bottom floor was renovated to create new offices for the Richland County Land Bank, a new employee break room and an employee workout room. That floor was once home to the Richland County Sheriff’s Office.
Commissioners hire DRM Productions of Mansfield to do the video at a cost estimated to be $9,900.
Commissioner Tony Vero said the video takes the place of the usual “State-of-the-County” video done annually.
(Below is a PDF with a press release issued by Richland County commissioners on Tuesday regarding recently completed capital improvements at the county courthouse.)