Improvements planned at Richland County's 56-year-old courthouse/administration building
Richland County commissioners hope to begin work this coming fall on the next phase of upgrading and modernizing the county courthouse/administration building.
The board voted at its meeting Thursday to issue a request for qualifications for a firm to do design work on approximately 11,500 square feet of the facility involving all four floors.
The major upgrades will be on the L1 level including remodeling the Land Bank office and creating conference and common space; a break room/kitchenette; employee exercise space, and restroom/locker space on that level. The scope of the design work also includes remodeling nine restrooms in the building and common areas on four of the five floors.
“The Land Bank is one of the most respected land banks in the state of Ohio,” said County Administrator Andrew Keller. “It’s very much due for an update to further its emphasis on accessibility to the public. Right now it’s cramped and we’ve even talked about how we want to orient the seating for the Land Bank board members.”
Commissioner Tony Vero pointed out the Land Bank has gained so much attention for its work since it was formed in 2012 that the state land bank conference is being held in Mansfield. “That space is simply not appropriate for the type of work and service the Land Bank does,” he said.
Regarding the restrooms, Keller noted the building has 10 “largely cookie cutter” restrooms in a vertical line spanning all five floors of the building, two on each floor. One is being re-done as part of renovations on L2.
“The remaining nine are very dated,” he said. “Some of the tiling, trash receptacles, even sinks and fixtures date back to when the building was constructed in 1968.”
Keller said officials hope to have the design work done and project bid packages go out by fall at the latest. “It could be another attractive winter work sort of project for a general contractor,” he added.
Commissioners plan to finance the project with American Rescue Plan Act funds including around $600,000 that was not used on the L2 project to create new space for the Clerk of Courts office after bids came in below estimate.
“The cost of this building in 1968 was around $2 million and our estimate on the L2 floor renovation was over $2 million. That tells you how much construction inflation has hit us in over 50 years,” Keller said.
The board also plans to renovate space that will be vacated by the Clerk of Courts into a fourth common pleas courtroom. “Once we complete the entire scope of this RFQ along with the L2 project, the vast majority of all of the publicly accessible areas of the building will have been updated,” Keller said.
Bids sought for jail medical services
Commissioners also voted Thursday to send out a request for quotes for medical services for inmates at the county jail. The contract with the current provider expires Feb. 29 and the company has indicated the cost will increase if the county decides to exercise its final one-year renewal option.
Jail Administrator Capt. Chris Blunk told the board the RFP includes two options ― one that continues current services and a second that provides two licensed practical nurses available 24 hours per day, seven days per week, 365 days per year. Other enhancements in the second option include a comprehensive drug and alcohol treatment program with regular assessments for inmates who are experiencing severe withdrawal and a health appraisal of inmates by a nurse within 2 hours of arrival.
“We’re living in a different era. We have people that come in that have mental health issues. We have people coming in who have drug and alcohol issues and we’ve learned, probably through the drug issues, they might be in jail for four or five days before they go through severe withdrawal,” Sheriff Steve Sheldon told the board. “We need to have a plan of action to be able to deal with that.”
Blunk said the jail health services contract cost around $607,000 in 2023 and would have gone to a little over $800,000 with the 33% increase. Commissioners allocated $760,000 in that budget line item for 2024.
Blunk said he plans to send notices to six potential service providers and that he expects the current contractor to submit a proposal.
Commissioners OK grant allocation
In other business, commissioners approved a memo of understanding between the Richland County and Huron County Youth and Family Councils to allocate $71,928 in federal Strong Families and Safe Communities funds to the local program. The money is part of a $206,000 grant awarded jointly to the two counties.
YFC Director Michelle Miller told the board the money will be used for parent education classes; respite programs; assistive equipment for families with special needs; a “kinship care closet” for materials needed to keep youth with family members and out of foster care, and life-skills development for youth. Miller noted that the dollars are part of a two-year grant cycle and that the county is expected to get the same allocation in 2025.
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Richland OH commissioners seek design services for courthouse remodel
