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County court gets new home

AUSTINTOWN — The Austintown County Court in the Austintown Plaza is boxing up and getting ready to move.

Though the court will remain in the plaza, the new location means the court will be shifted to the front of the plaza, allowing the public to have easier access.

The move is slated for Thursday, the final touches will be made Friday and the court will be ready for hearing cases April 12.

“We outgrew the current building,” Judge Scott Hunter said. “The county court is the largest in Mahoning County and one of the largest in Ohio.”

The volume of cases the court sees and the size of the current facility were contributing factors for the move, but above all, the lease for the current location was coming to an end, Hunter said. He explained the court was at the current location for a number of years, well before Hunter took the helm more than two decades ago.

“The design of the court and offices is much better than the previous one. The layout not only benefits the public, but the employees of the court as well,” Hunter said.

“It will address the public needs in a county court, particularly the size of the court in Austintown. The township is large, and we regularly have a large docket. We needed a facility that offered the amount of storage and space needed for our numerous employees,” Hunter said. “I think we will accomplish the sizing

issues with the new location.”

Hunter said the court couldn’t simply renew the lease contract without seeking bids. The court received two bids, and settled on the new location with a 10-year lease.

For the first five years, the rent will be $15,500 monthly. After five years, the rent increases to $17,050.

The rental cost includes the pricetag for renovations.

The court space is increasing from 11,000 square feet to about 15,000 square feet.

Rent for the space being vacated was $9,300 a month.

“This is an excellent facility,” Hunter noted.

The 2021 funding source for the new facility is the county commissioners’ general fund, the judge explained. The court and the commissioners will be looking into how other courts are funded, which is a combination of commissioner-sourced and court costs.

The move wasn’t an easy one in terms of logistics. Hunter commends the efforts of Mahoning County Court Administrator Colleen Ingram for handling the move.

“She’s done a remarkable job coordinating all aspects of the move,” Hunter said.

He also recognizes the work the court staff has done in preparation for the move.

Hunter said preparing for the move was a “great deal of work” and credits the staff with stepping up and helping make the move as easy as possible, despite potential speed bumps the move may bring.

“The spirit of cooperation has been outstanding. I am confident the move will be seamless,” Hunter said. “Everyone has worked so hard and I believe the public

will be pleased with this move.”

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