Board stalls on court building refinancing

The Hancock County Board of Commissioners approved several resolutions to continue financing various projects, but stalled on a request to refinance up to $2.04 million in notes for the new county court building. Board President Mark Gazarek and commissioner Tim Bechtol were present Thursday for a meeting with county Auditor Charity Rauschenberg, but commissioner Brian Robertson was absent. What is typically a routine twice-annual matter with the county auditor to maintain the county's borrowing took a turn when Gazarek said he did not favor borrowing for the court building, nor did he approve the original resolution. As a result, Gazarek said he would not take action on the issue. Gazarek has said the $9 million construction cost for a new juvenile/probate court building far exceeds the $4 million to $5 million the commissioners originally listed as the cost when they sought voter approval of a tax levy for its construction. The issue was defeated previously. He also said all three commissioners should be present for approval of such an issue. Bechtol said there's no reason to make a motion when no second would be provided by Gazarek. If the county doesn't refinance the debt, it would be required to pay off the entire amount, which could affect other areas of the county budget. The state legislature has allowed boards to handle business remotely through December. Normally, board members must be present to vote. A call was made to Robertson to include him in the decision, but the call went to voicemail. Rauschenberg then called the county's municipal finance advisor, Mike Sudsina, of Sudsina and Associates, Gypsum, Ohio. Via speaker phone, Sudsina told the commissioners the refinancing requires the county to "act quickly." He said the "drop dead" date for approval is Tuesday. Sudsina said interest rates will be set by underwriters on Wednesday, and the old notes would be paid off by Oct. 21. The commissioners took no action on the legislation. The board did approve notes, which provide short-term borrowing "not to exceed" the listed amounts, for the following projects: • $1.307 million for Hancock County Justice Center renovations including new cellblock doors, plumbing, roofing and painting. Much of the work has been finished and the amount was previously borrowed. It is not a new borrowing offer. • $440,000 for a trash compactor at the county sanitary landfill. The purchase was made last year and about half the debt has been paid, said Steve Wilson, project manager at the landfill. • $180,000 for infrastructure improvements, including paving and curb construction, on Distribution Drive and Hancock County 212. While county courts and adult probation will be closed Monday in observance of Columbus Day, all other county offices will be open. In exchange, those employees will have Dec. 24 off.