Judge provides final numbers on project

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Van Wert Municipal Court Judge Jill Leatherman was at Monday night’s meeting of City Council to provide an update on the mostly-completed court facility project.

Judge Leatherman provided brought in final figures for the project and its related costs at the request of City Council, which had approved a bond issue to help pay for the project.

The judge first noted that, despite higher costs than first estimated and delays in construction and renovation work that moved completion back a couple of months, the facility project at 102 E. Main St. was successful in the final analysis.

“We love it, we love having the space, it’s turned out beautiful,” Judge Leatherman noted. “I think everyone will be proud to have this as part of our community.”

The judge first commended City Safety-Service Director Jay Fleming for being instrumental in completion of the project. “We would not have been able to get through this project with his help,” Judge Leatherman told City Council, while also thanking city workers who helped move the court on a rainy weekend in September.

One of the largest unexpected costs, the judge noted, was replacement of a 30-year-old fire alarm system to ensure the building had an adequate fire warning system. Cost of the system was approximately $30,000.

Some safety design features were also added, including closing in the atrium on the second floor, to provide additional safety for anyone on the first floor. The new court facility also includes enhanced security features, including a metal detector at the main entrance to the building.

The new facility also includes two courtrooms, including one specially designed for jury trials.

Judge Leatherman said total construction/renovation costs totaled $609,380.50, with another approximately $100,000 outside the construction contract that was used for the purchase of custom designed court furnishings and a new computer system and replacement of a 15-year-old computer server. The judge stressed that non-taxpayer dollars were used for those purchases.

“The city did not expend any funds above the bond fund,” Judge Leatherman stressed to Council members.

The judge said completion of the new facility came at a good time, since the air-conditioning system at the former court building on South Market Street quit for the last time just prior to the move.

Before the project even started, the judge said, her office replaced nine HVAC units at the East Main Street facility using funds from the court’s special projects funds.

“I look forward to everyone coming to see the building,” Judge Leatherman said, noting that she plans to have an open house for the building when the project all the little uncompleted items are finished.

As a side note, Judge Leatherman said cases have significantly increased for her court, stating that cases are up in all areas, with total cases up 1,154 over last year’s total of 5,942 cases, as of September 30, 2014. Those cases also resulted in increased revenues for the court, the judge added.