Call it “The Justice Center"

The “Westerville Police/Court Facility” is one word and one slash too many. Residents, join us in now officially calling the new headquarters of the Westerville Division of Police and Mayor’s Court “The Justice Center.”

Justice Center” is a common name for a combined police and court facility, with cities in Kettering and Delaware, Ohio and counties like Hamilton and Cuyahoga using the phrase. It’s akin to calling the Westerville Municipal Building in Uptown “City Hall”, says WPD Chief Charles Chandler.

We wanted to be really clear when we first started talking about the new building in terms of what it was and how it would be used,” said Chief Chandler.

Now that the community is familiar with what’s coming, there doesn’t seem a need to use the generic word ‘facility’ anymore.

Great News! Lower Millage

Westerville voters approved the bond request for the $15 million project in 2019. At the time, the City and County worked on estimates that determined the millage at less than one mill (0.96) as necessary to provide debt service. The average cost to the residents was estimated to be about $2.80 monthly for every $100,000 of home valuation.

Last September, the Westerville Finance Department, led by Director Lee Ann Shortland, learned the City would retain its category-best Aaa rating for the interest rate on the bonds. Instead of an anticipated total interest over 20 years at a worst-case 5.0% interest rate totaling $8.9 million, the City’s financial management excellence earned a total interest cost over 20 years at $4.2 million, saving more than $4.6 million in interest alone.

Shortland says the City will utilize the bond premium for the interest costs in 2021 and 2022, thereby reducing the amount to be paid by the taxpayers in those years. Staff anticipates the millage in 2021 will be approximately 0.33, rather than 0.96.

When we pursue a major capital development like this, we take advantage of this year-over-year rating, so we’re really keeping our promises to residents who said ‘yes’ to this project,” said Shortland. “There are few cities in Ohio capable of meeting the standards we meet, and that speaks to the commitment to excellence in our financial management strategy.

Construction Making Progress

Construction started the first week of the year and remains on schedule. Major foundational work was performed in March and April after demolition (see next section). In May and June, the contractor will continue excavation and grading, while also completing utility connections and an access driveway behind the Center.

Construction will continue through the remainder of the year and is expected to be finished next summer. A community open house will be announced next year.

Reusing Existing Materials

One of the highlights about renovating and adding to an existing building was the ability to use existing foundation, frame and materials for parts of the project. As new construction on the south side of the project begins this summer, materials taken from the existing north-facing side of the building are added back in. These include subsurface concrete, structural steel and the roof deck. Stairwells will also be reused, and much of the brick removed from the existing facility will be re-purposed into final construction.

Construction plans called for some of the existing first-floor drywall to remain in place. However, the contractor made the business decision that the value of performing all of the demolition up front was more advantageous than performing piecemeal demolition. Since the drywall could not be exposed to the elements for several months, they decided to replace some of the first floor drywall at their cost.

For more information on the project, visit www.westerville.org/police.