County terminates mall purchase

The Hancock County commissioners on Wednesday voted to terminate their agreement made in June to buy part of Findlay Village Mall for county offices for $3.7 million. The purchase made no sense economically after a court facilities panel last week blocked the board's plan to move Hancock County Probate/Juvenile Court into the mall, the commissioners said. The three commissioners' votes were the short end of the 4-3 tally last week by the court facilities panel. Voting against the commissioners' plan were Juvenile/Probate Judge Kristen Johnson, Common Pleas Judge Reginald Routson, Sheriff Michael Heldman and Clerk of Courts Cathy Prosser Wilcox. The opponents cited a variety of concerns about security and expenses. The rejection gutted the economics of moving to the mall county offices like the board of elections, veterans service office, public defender, auditor, treasurer and recorder. Moving the auditor, treasurer and recorder's offices would have opened second-floor space at the courthouse for the clerk of courts and attorney-client conferences, Commissioner William Bateson said. "I am disappointed that we weren't able to move this forward for the county," he said. "Without the court moving out there, I think it's probably a wise move that we don't use county funds in that manner," he said. The board of commissioners clearly believed in the move. "I think this is a huge opportunity that we are missing out on here, a once-in-a-lifetime deal," said Commissioner Timothy Bechtol. "I certainly understand the (opposing) reasons that were given last Thursday (from) the other members of the committee." "Just wasn't meant to be, so we'll move forward the best way we can," Bateson said. County government still has a variety of office and storage needs. At the top of the list is relocating Probate/Juvenile Court. In August 2020, Johnson asked the 3rd District Court of Appeals, in Lima, to order the commissioners to provide a suitable space for the court by January 2022. Studies have determined the existing space at 308 Dorney Plaza, just west of the Hancock County Courthouse, is unsuitably small. Johnson proposed dropping her court action against the commissioners if by Oct. 15: • The court facilities panel approves construction of a new building or renovation of an existing building for the court. • The commissioners contract with someone to substantially complete the construction or renovation by year-end 2022. Wilin: 419-427-8413