This letter appeared in the A-T.
To the citizens of Seneca County:
Here are some more facts you are entitled to know:
In response to quoted restoration costs taken from the 2003 VanDijk, Westlake, Reed, Leskosky study, Commissioner Ben Nutter stated on the front page of the May 2 Advertiser-Tribune, “Those figures are not even close to accurate ….”
Not true!
The VanDijk study was done shortly before Nutter took office, at a cost to the citizens of Seneca County of nearly $200,000. It is a very extensive plan which includes restoration of the clock tower. This plan calls for work to be done in three phases:
Phase I — $1,993,963
Phase II — $5,428,310
Phase III — $576,082
Total — $7,998,355
This nearly $200,000 study has been ignored!
In August 2006, the commissioners voted, with no discussion among themselves or input from those present, to demolish the courthouse. During a break in the proceedings, those of us present were given a copy of the “Space Needs Plan” written by Nutter. This plan is based on the April 2006 Stillson study authorized by commissioners Nutter, Dave Sauber and Joe Schock. The Stillson study states, “logic dictates the county currently possesses adequate space for its operations” (page 3). This study, I am told, cost between $10,000-$15,000.
Recently, I obtained a more detailed portion of the Stillson study which was not included in Nutter’s “Space Needs Plan.” It states at the top of page VII-2, the very first line, “Probable Project costs of restoration of the existing 1884 Court House are:
Low — $6,694,400.00
High — $7,363,840.00”
The Stillson study also projected square footage costs for restoration at less than new construction.
The citizens of Seneca County are, at this very moment, paying MKC almost $45,000 for a third study which does not even include a restoration plan.
Where is your outrage? Enough is enough!
Rayella Engle
Tiffin
P.S. Last Wednesday, the Mystery Bus Tour taken by citizens of the area went to Upper Sandusky to see their restored courthouse.
Section: Letters Posted: 5/16/2007
From Scout 639:
It is my understanding the figure of the $200,000 study, is incorrect. I believe that figure contains steel purchased for refurbishing, as well as other materials, etc. I hope the commissioners address this letter and the blog will certainly be happy to print an explaination of the study for clarification.
8 responses so far ↓
chairmanmao // May 21, 2007 at 12:52 am
Were is the county going to get 7 million dollars? Is the historic trust going to start a lottery pool?
Scout639 // May 21, 2007 at 1:16 pm
I may be taking a leap here, but do the preservationists know the average household income in the county is $25,000? Too often people pointing the finger are far removed from the average citizen’s concerns/
Gengis Khan // May 21, 2007 at 2:06 pm
I have a real hard time believing that Seneca Co. spent $200,000 on a report. Can somebody verify this information?
SenecaJohn1 // May 24, 2007 at 10:11 pm
The true cost was $270,000, but the need a different study to reflect what they want!
SenecaJohn1 // May 25, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Where is the county going to get 1 million to remove old courthouse and 15 milion to build a new courthouse?
chairmanmao // May 26, 2007 at 4:45 am
I have heard discussions about a bake sale in the past. Unfortunetley it would have to be baking a lot of crack cocaine to raise that much money. Those who think it could be saved are obviously already smoking it though, so there is a ready market.
Sen. Blutarsky // May 26, 2007 at 11:29 am
I keep hearing people ask the question, “where are the commissioners going to get the $15 million for a new courthouse?” Well, that ignores that logical follow-up, where are the commissioners going to get the 7-10 million to renovate the old courthouse. It seems from the courthouse suit that Seneca County is too poor to do either. I believe the false assumption is that once the courthouse is torn down that the commissioners have to build or renovate anything.
scout639 // June 3, 2007 at 2:47 pm
This is the link to the $$$$ that supposedly are available for renovations. I found it myself on their site. It is interesting no matter how many times we have asked for funding info, no one responded. Anyway, the $$$ they are talking about is a load of malarkey.
http://www.ohiohistory.org/resource/histpres/docs/fundinglist2.pdf
Ohio Historic Preservation Office
Historic Preservation Related Funding Sources
Program and Application Information
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