Court building plans approved

Plans were approved Thursday by Findlay City Planning Commission for an $8.4 million, 26,341-square-foot Juvenile/Probate Court building, on West Main Cross Street between Cory Street and the post office. Construction could start this fall and be completed in early 2022, said Hancock County Commissioner Timothy Bechtol. But a few things need to happen first. The economy needs to keep improving, and at least one other commissioner besides Bechtol must vote to proceed with the project, he said. Commissioner Brian Robertson has expressed a preference for attaching the new court building to the west side of the county courthouse for efficiency and cost savings. Commissioner Mark Gazarek has expressed concerns about county government's ability to pay for the project. A court-related committee also must review the final plans, Bechtol said. That committee includes the county judges, sheriff and clerk of courts. Separately, the planning commission on Thursday approved plans for a 7,200-square-foot office and storage building on the west side of Glessner Avenue for Findlay Blasting. The building would be located south of the building at the southwest corner of West Main Cross Street and Glessner Avenue.