Romulus OKs first step to upgrade 34th Dist. Court

At its Nov. 23 regular meeting, the Romulus City Council voted unanimously to pass a notice of intention that it will be going out for up to $11 million in capital improvement bonds to upgrade and expand the 34th District Court complex.
And, the court will make the bond payments.
The courthouse, owned by the city of Romulus, is next door to city hall and the Romulus library on the municipal campus.
Among renovations is addition of another courtroom, so the magistrate can use one of present courtrooms and won’t have to continue to hold court in his office, and a new public hallway down the south side of the building to the three courtrooms (two new and one refurbished), with the present hallway to be used for interoffice traffic. Also, the parking area will be improved for the entire municipal campus.
The entry of building would be at the front of the building and people coming in to the probation department or to pay fees would have easy access to that area, while those heading to the courtrooms would go through the metal detectors and down the new hall.
Chief Judge Tina Brooks Green said the proposed project would add 15,000 square feet to the building and that space is much needed.
She said there is a 45-day window after publication of the Romulus council’s notice for the bonds during which time taxpayers can petition the council for a referendum. Judge Green said she was waiting until after the 45 days was up to go to the five communities to explain what it is the court wants to do.
Court Administrator/Magistrate Al Hindman said they have been planning to improve the court for eight years and this is the fifth attempt with the council. He said it was the first time they got past the first step – a notice of intention.
“This is a huge thing,” Judge Brian Oakley said in his courtroom last week, adding staff in the courthouse is using former store rooms for offices and they are working in very crowded conditions. He said the building hasn’t been upgraded since the early 1990s.
Judge Green said they looked at the possibility of a new building, but it would cost twice as much as the renovations and the court might not be making enough money monthly for a larger payment.
The proposed project was explained to the Romulus City Council in a study session earlier in the day Nov. 23. Court Administrator Hindman compared the 34th District Court to other courts in this area and pointed out the 34th District Court handles twice as many cases in half as much space.
Judge Oakley said the expansion of the court is needed to serve the five communities covered by the court: the cities of Belleville and Romulus and townships of Huron, Van Buren, and Sumpter. The court covers a total of 13 police departments, including those at Metro Airport, Metroparks, Wayne County Sheriff, Michigan State Police, and Department of Natural Resources.
A representative from Miller Canfield explained the procedure for the bonds at the city council meeting.
He said the notice of intention will be published and there is no requirement to go for a vote of the people, unless the city is petitioned. Then, there will be a referendum and, if the bonds are approved, they will be sold next summer. But the bonds will not be sold until after bid prices are available, so the bonds are expected to be finalized next August or September.
He said the funds to pay the bonds will be generated by the court. But, since the city is the issuer of the bonds, the city needs to pledge its full faith and credit to pay off the bonds if the court can’t.
He said the city is not allowed to use taxes to pay off the bonds.
In other business at the Nov 23 meeting, the Romulus City Council also approved putting on the March 8 presidential primary ballot a request for Neighborhood Street Improvement Bonds of not to exceed $25 million. This is estimated to need a levy of 3.55 mills per year for 12 years.
The paving, repaving and reconstruction of residential streets is expected to take four construction seasons. Over the past year the city has been holding visioning sessions and one of the top priorities was the upgrading of residential streets.
The vote was 5-2 with Councilwomen Linda Choate and Sylvia Makowski voting no.