Romulus Council OKs memo of understanding for new court building

At its regular meeting July 25 the Romulus City Council voted unanimously to approve a memorandum of understanding on pursuing a new, stand-alone 34th District Court facility on the City of Romulus campus.
The court had first proposed renovating the existing building on the Romulus City campus at a cost of $11 million. Then, plans changed and it was proposed that a new building at a cost of $14 million was a better idea.
While the City of Romulus would have to sell the bonds for the project, the court would pay for the bond and no city funds will be used.
The Funding Unit Fees, collected by the court starting in 2014, were to be put into a separate account starting July 1 for debt service and upfront costs of construction, such as architectural fees, said Susanne Marino of the city financial office.
Councilman William Wadsworth asked if the court will stay for 25 years and Chief Judge Tina Brooks said the intention is to stay in Romulus.
Councilman Wadsworth said then the council won’t have to hear the court wants to go to Belleville or Huron Township. There was a voice in the audience calling out he never said that and then back and forth talking. Mayor LeRoy Burcroff gaveled the meeting to order.
Judge Green said this will be the intention and in the future they can look back and say, “This is what the parties intended, to stay in the City of Romulus, when they broke ground in 2016 or 2017.”
Mayor Burcroff said the City of Romulus does want the court to stay in Romulus. The city wants to build a new court that meets their needs “at what we can afford with that income.”
He emphasized that no general fund money from taxpayers will be paid for the new court building.
Councilwoman Kathleen Abdo said she’s glad that the judges are comfortable with the program that builds a new court instead of renovating the old court because the city wants to plan for the future.
“And, this looks like they’re planning for the future,” she said.
Romulus Economic Development Director Tim Keyes is the project manager for the court construction and he was present to explain the preliminary plans to the council.
Also present besides Judge Green, were Judge Brian A. Oakley, Judge David Parrott, Magistrate Al Hindman, Plante Moran, and finance and planning people.
Keyes said the 4-5 page memorandum of understanding is the same document presented to the council at the end of June that covers the financing, the bond, architect, and contractors.
It’s a springboard that tells how to move forward, he said.