Board establishes fund to improve judicial system

In a matter of weeks, demolition crews reduced the 1884 courthouse to a pile of rubble. THE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH Enlarge | Photo Reprints

TIFFIN -- Now that the site of Seneca County's 1884 courthouse has been reduced to a vacant lot, county commissioners addressed the future Thursday by unanimously voting to establish a permanent fund for judicial improvements.

Money for the tentatively titled Justice Improvement Fund would be allocated from a portion of the annual carryover from the county's budget. The carryover for 2011 was $1.4 million.

"My anticipation is not that it would be spent only on a new building. My anticipation is that it would be spent to make improvements to the justice system," board President Ben Nutter said. "If we dedicate the money to that specific fund, we will not run into the situation that we did with the former 1884 courthouse."

READ MORE: Seneca County Courthouse demolition

Although the exact amount to be set aside has yet to be determined, the commissioners discussed opening the fund with $400,000 instead of 50 percent of the carryover, which Mr. Nutter had originally suggested. The next step is to set guidelines to establish a set of rules governing how the money can be spent.

Commissioners have not decided on a final plan for a structure to house the county's judicial offices and courts.

"Whether it's renovations or a new building, the money would be there," said Commissioner Jeff Wagner. "I think that we could potentially put some more money in later in the year if things look a little more rosy."

The commissioners agreed the Justice Improvement Fund should be a permanent fund that can be evaluated at any time in regard to the amount of the annual carryover in the county's budget.

"My hope is that a permanent fund would show our commitment and dedication to improving that particular area. I think that, collectively, the boards of commissioners over the years have not committed to do that," Mr. Nutter said. "By stockpiling that money, we are addressing our plans for the future as it relates to the justice system."

By a 2-1 vote last year, commissioners agreed to demolish the historic courthouse rather than renovate it for the common pleas courts and clerk of courts. Those offices are housed in the annex building next door, while the probate and juvenile courts remain in a cramped, nonaccessible building across the street.