MAYOR HORRIGAN AND AKRON MUNICIPAL COURT OFFER LEGISLATION TO CONSTRUCT NEW AKRON MUNICIPAL COURTHOUSE

City of Akron Press Release

Published: 07-18-2016

Akron, Ohio, July 18, 2016 – Mayor Dan Horrigan and Administrative/Presiding Judge Joy Malek Oldfield introduced legislation allowing construction of a new Akron Municipal Courthouse that better serves citizens and customers of the Court. Funds for the project, budgeted not to exceed $21 million, will be provided by the Courthouse Special Projects Fund. City of Akron general fund dollars will not be used for this project.

The proposed new courthouse will provide the space needed to efficiently and effectively serve citizens using the Municipal Court, Prosecutor’s Office, Clerk of Courts and community agencies and court security. A 1978 study of the Akron Municipal Court determined that citizens and court personnel needed a more customer service friendly building that is easily accessible, safe and secure.

As a result, more than a decade ago, the courts created the Courthouse Special Projects Fund to assist in supporting the costs of a new building. Today, the fund has generated the revenue needed to make this long-standing need a reality for citizens of the municipal court district. The Akron Municipal Court Jurisdiction includes Akron, Fairlawn, Bath, Richfield, Springfield, Lakemore and the part of Mogadore located in Summit County.

“This is an opportunity for the City of Akron to meet a long-term need for a new building which offers a positive, safe and secure environment for citizens needing or using our court services,” said Mayor Dan Horrigan.

“As the Administrative/Presiding Judge of the Akron Municipal Court, I commend our City leaders and my fellow judges for working together on this important venture,” said Judge Joy Oldfield.

“A new courthouse will provide the space and safety features necessary for a more efficient administration of justice, and improve the services provided for everyone who comes to the Akron Municipal Court. I’m proud to have personally worked on this plan for more than two years, and to continue advancing the interests of the citizens in our jurisdiction,” she added.

Legislation was introduced at Monday’s City Council meeting and was unanimously approved. The City of Akron will publicly advertise to secure a Construction Manager At-Risk to manage the design and construction of the new courthouse building, to be located on South Broadway Street in Downtown Akron on the site of the existing Morley Building.

For further information, contact:

Christine R. Curry

Director of Communications

166 S. High Street, Akron, OH 44308

www.akronohio.gov

Phone: 330/375-2209

E-mail: [email protected]