Crescent-News.com - New year brings big changes

By TODD HELBERG

The new year will bring big changes for Defiance County government.

Several offices will be relocating as a three-phased, multi million-dollar program drawn up by county commissioners to meet space concerns gets underway.

When all is said and done -- a few years down the road, perhaps -- the final cost could top $8 million, according to commissioners.

The program will begin immediately.

Specifically, commissioners have hired Beilharz Architects to begin making plans for new offices at Defiance County East, the former Defiance Hospital medical office building on Second Street. This in preparation for the finishing of 3,000 square feet of vacant space on the building's second floor.

When completed -- maybe this spring -- the Defiance County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) will move there, leaving behind its present location at 500 Court St. CSEA's office will then be reconfigured and taken over by the county prosecutor's office which is utilizing private property at Third and Clinton streets.

Renovation costs for these two relocations are estimated at $350,000, commissioners said.

Meanwhile, commissioners plan to move the engineering and wastewater offices from the county annex -- located at Wayne Avenue and Second Street, due east of the courthouse -- into the abandoned law library. This second-floor office is immediately north of the annex, just across the way on Court Street. (Office space for juvenile probation and state auditors will also be relocated from the annex to the basement of the Keybank building owned by commissioners on East Second Street.)

Commissioners said the law library can be made ready for approximately $10,000-$20,000.

Engineer Warren Schlatter said work stations will be added for his staff of nine, keeping renovation costs at a minimum.

One advantage the new location will have, he explained, is that the engineer's office in the annex has three levels while the law library location will have one and be handicap accessible.

"We are on three different levels, none of which match the street," said Schlatter.

After the above offices move, the annex will be renovated and its seven different levels turned into three floors. This will be phase two of commissioners' long-term project.

According to commissioners, the north end of the building will be removed and replaced with a new facility. But the historical south end, which was built in the 19th century and home to a jail and sheriff residence, will remain and be reconfigured.

As part of the annex project, a parking lot will be eliminated between that building and the courthouse. In its place, will be landscaping and a new sidewalk connecting the buildings.

A few new parking spaces will be added on adjacent Court Street, but seven parking spots will be lost overall.

Estimated cost for the annex-related improvements is $3 million, commissioners said.

Work on the annex may begin in the summer or fall, according to commissioners, with completion not likely until 2010. But once completed, the auditor, recorder and treasurer offices will move into the finished product from the county courthouse.

Each could occupy one of the renovated annex's three floors, but this has yet to be finalized. For example, commissioners are considering placement of the treasurer and recorder offices on the same floor.

"I'm looking forward to working with commissioners on this project," said Treasurer Karen Tubbs. "My main concern is to ensure the taxpayers have easy access to the office and enough room is provided to adequately serve their needs."

"It seems like a good plan to move forward on," said Auditor Marlene Goodwin. "As long as my space requirements are adequate, I would be happy to move."

Removing the auditor, recorder and treasurer offices from the courthouse will free space for that building to become what its name suggests -- a court facility.

A renovation to the 138-year-old building may cost $4-5 million, according to commissioners. The renovation would be phase three of commissioners' long-term office space project.

Not only would the renovation bring the courthouse up to ADA standards, it would redistribute court offices, provide additional space for each and enhance security. But it would not address the courthouse facade, which doesn't match following a third-floor addition in the 1960s.

According to commissioners, common pleas would have exclusive use of the third floor, which it now shares with juvenile/probate court. The latter would move to the second floor while the clerk of courts would take over the first floor.

Presently, the clerk is on the second floor while the auditor and treasurer offices occupy the first floor.

One elected official who would benefit from a renovated courthouse is Juvenile/Probate Judge-elect Jeff Strausbaugh. After serving 16 years as the county prosecutor, Strausbaugh will assume his new office in February.

Of those interviewed for this story, he spoke most strongly in favor of commissioners' plans.

"The plan makes complete sense," he said. "The courts have been greatly restricted in terms of their space, not only by the staff, but also for attorney usage and those kinds of things. The caseload has continued to increase but the court size hasn't."

Commissioners are certain about proceeding immediately with the first two phases of the aforementioned project, but the courthouse renovation might be done in segments, depending upon financing.

"We will continue to try to save money," said Commissioner Tom Kime who believes a renovated courthouse would provide 50-75 years of useful life.

"It will either be done in increments or, if we are able to save money, use what we have."

At present, he said, commissioners have about $4.5 million in their capital budget for all three phases.

Commissioners' decision to proceed with the project comes after a $12,000 study by Schooley Caldwell Associates, Columbus. The same firm designed improvements to the state capitol building in Columbus nearly 20 years ago.