Explanation
Background: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Finance and Management to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Franklin County Board of Commissioners that outlines the mutually agreed upon terms for inclusion in a future real estate purchase contract for the City’s acquisition of property identified as Franklin County Parcels 010-66679 and 010-066874, located at the southeast corner of Mound and High Streets. The City will acquire the site for the future construction of a new facility to house the operations of the Municipal Court and Municipal Court Clerk and other City offices associated with the Court. Municipal Court operations are currently located at 375 S. High Street in a county-owned building that was built in 1979 and leased by the City.
While the current building would require major upgrades in technology, security and space, it has been determined that it is in the best interest of the City to construct a new facility to support the operations of the Court and the offices associated with its work. The location of the new facility at this site will ensure continued connectivity between the municipal and county court systems and the offices located at the City Hall Campus.
Emergency action is requested to allow the parties to engage in the Memorandum of Understanding at the earliest time available to allow the City to move forward with necessary contracts to design and construct the new Municipal Court facility.
Fiscal Impact: No funding is required for this legislation. However, the City and County have mutually agreed to a purchase cost of $7,000,000.00 and that this amount to be a fair amount for the purchase of the land. The City will pay the County in two (2) installments. Half of the purchase price or $3,500,000.00 will be paid March 1, 2022 and the other $3,500,000.00 will be paid at closing, which shall be at substantial design completion or September 1, 2024, whichever is earliest....
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