Save Your Courthouse Committee wins Trademark Infrigement claim

The other side used our slogan on their website. Pat Walker, being a trademark lawyer, filed a complaint with WordPress, who agreed there was infrigment and took down the other side’s website.

Rose Company Liberty View Project Tied to City’s Parking Garage

More information has come out about the Rose Company Liberty View Project that is proposed for the land between Sully’s and the Federal Courthouse on West Liberty Street. The Proposal, accepted by Medina Mayor Dennis Hanwell and Medina City Council member Paul Rose, guarantees to the developer that their residential tenants will have reserved spaces in the City’s parking garage. See Section 3 of the Proprosal.

Medina City Moves Forward with Liberty View Project

The City of Medina wants to move the Medina Municipal Court to the Medina County Courthouse on the Square so the Municipal parking garage next to City Hall may be used for the Liberty View Project. Read the Proposal accepted by : Medina Mayor Dennis Hanwell and Medina City Council member Paul Rose on December 18, 2020.

The City has already transferred a $126, 020 piece of property to the CIC (a corporation) for no money. On April 12th the City plans on transferring more land to the CIC so that the Rose Company may build on the taxpayers' land. The CIC (not the City) will receive $4,000 a YEAR (same as $333 per month) for 50 years from the Rose Company for the right to build a building on the land. There is nothing that states that the City will receive any money (other than some real estate taxes) for the taxpayers' land. Also, the deal provides that at least 39 parking spaces in the Municipal garage will be reserved for residents of the Liberty View Project of the Rose Company.

The City of Medina put the Courthouse again on the ballot. Please vote NO on May 4th. Stop Government Waste. Vote NO!

Taxpayers respond to Ohio Supreme Court Denial of CitizenS’ Appeal

On March 17, 2021, the Ohio Supreme Court denied the Citizens' appeal. Read the Taxpayers Motion for Reconsideration (known as the Relators’ Motion and Memorandum) and the Press Release.

Relators’ Reply Brief filed with Ohio Supreme Court

On March 9, 2021, Taxpayers filed Relators’ Reply Brief to enforce Issue 7 that was enacted last November by the Medina City voters.

Taxpayers file RElaTors’ merit brief

Relators’ Merit Brief was filed on March 5, 2021 with the Ohio Supreme Court to require sensible ballot language for the May 4, 2021 City-generated Courthouse ballot issue.

Save Your Courthouse Committee files WRIT of mandamus

A Writ of Mandamus was filed with the Ohio Supreme Court on February 26, 2021. Read the press release.

Now is the Time for Citizens to Stop Government Waste.

Read the Press Release issued February 23, 2021.

protest filed against Medina City’s May Ballot Issue

Two voters filed a Protest with the Board of Elections on February 19, 2021 asking the Board of Elections to follow the Courthouse language that was passed in November and require a majority of the qualified voters who are residents of the City of Medina in order to approve the City's scheme. That would mean that the City's scheme would need at least 9,136 votes to be passed.

Save Your Courthouse Reminds Board of Elections about Votes Required to Pass City Ballot issue

Issue 7, that is now law, requires "a majority vote of the qualified electors who reside in the City of Medina, Ohio" to approve any future ballot measure concerning the Courthouse. That currently means that 9,136 voters must vote YES in the Primary Election for the City-generated Courthouse ballot issue to pass. That is one-half plus one of the qualified electors in the City of Medina (18,270). Read the entire letter sent to the Medina County Board of Elections on February 12, 2021.

Taxpayer Lawsuit Filed January 28, 2021

A Taxpayer Lawsuit was filed on January 28, 2021 against the City of Medina to stop expenditure of taxpayer and resources in violation of the Citizens' Initiative that City voters passed last Fall. Read the Press Release put out by the Save Your Courthouse Committee.

You can read what Plain Dealer had to say HERE.

Pat Walker Comments

Read Pat Walker’s comments she sent to the Medina City Council for the following meetings:

COUNTY COMISSIONERS DISSOLVE COURTHOUSE STEERING COMMITTEE AND MOVE FORWARD WITH COURTHOUSE PROJECT

At the November 17, 2020 County Commissioners' meeting the County Administrator recommended that the Courthouse Steering Committee be dissolved. Without official action taken, the Commissioners impliedly agreed.

The County Commissioners are going ahead with the Courthouse Project. Please contact the County Commissioners if you have any questions or comments: 

Request to the County Commissioners to cease all activites and expenditures related to the Courthouse Project

Letter to the County Commissioners, dated November 9, 2020, requesting they cease all activites and expenditures related to the Courthouse Project based on the results of Issue 7.

The Appellants' REply Brief for the Taxpayers' Lawsuit filed

The Appellants' Reply Brief for the Taxpayers' Lawsuit was filed with the Ninth District Court of Appeals' Clerk of Courts on October 26, 2020

Appellee's Brief for the Taxpayers' Lawsuit

The Appellee's Brief for the Taxpayers' Lawsuit was filed with the Ninth District Court of Appeals on October 14, 2020.

The Appellants' Brief for the Taxpayers' Lawsuit filed

The Appellants' Brief for the Taxpayers' Lawsuit was filed with the Ninth District Court of Appeals' Clerk of Courts on September 4, 2020

Medina City Finance Director says the Petition Should Go on the November 3, 2020 Ballot

On August 5, 2020, The Medina City Finance Director, Keith Dirham, notifed the Save Your Courthouse Committee that there was a sufficient number of signatures for the Courthouse Initiative, and the issue should be placed on the November 3, 2020 ballot for Medina City Voters to vote on! You can read the memo HERE.

COURTHOUSE PLANNING MOVES FORWARD DESPITE THE PEOPLE’S DEMAND FOR A VOTE

The City of Medina and the County Commissioners are continuing to move ahead with the controversial Joint City/County Courthouse Project despite the filing of an Initiative to put the issue on the City ballot in November.  On July 28, select individuals were invited to a meeting to see the latest City/County plans for the more than $60 million[1] project.  Members of the Save Your Courthouse Committee, who have gathered signatures to place the Courthouse issue on the ballot, were not permitted to attend, and instead had to make a public request for information presented at the meeting.

“The continued pursuit of the Project in spite of the citizen’s Initiative demanding a vote, suggests the politicians do not care what the people want,” said Pat Walker, a member of the Save Your Courthouse Committee.  “Moving ahead with this massive expenditure without a vote is unreasonable given the difficult financial situation that the City and County are currently facing due to the coronavirus pandemic.  For example, the County admitted on July 28 that more than $60 million in property taxes are currently delinquent, almost 10 times more than last year.”

At the “by invitation only” meeting, the architects presented a new plan in which the 1969 Courthouse addition will remain standing, but will be vacant.  Previously, the Commissioners had stated that the only thing that was certain was that the 1969 Courthouse addition would be demolished.  This new plan was immediately criticized as not providing space for all of the existing Court employees, including (as an example) providing no workspace for the current administrative staff of the Domestic Relations Court.

“It appears that the politicians finally realized how much it was going to cost to remove and dispose of the asbestos in the current County Courthouse, so they decided to leave it standing to try to avoid those costs.  However, to leave the existing building vacant while constructing a new building that does not have room for existing Court staff, further shows that the Courthouse Project is not being pursued in a manner that best serves the interests of the people.  At least it appears that the people in the City of Medina will have a chance to stop the current Joint Project through their votes in November,” said Pat Walker.  Rev. Keith A. Rasey, another member of the Committee notes, “This lack of inclusive transparency is one of the prime reasons I am involved in this. It's the taxpayers' money and there is every good reason to involve them and inform them, fully, as these plans are discussed."

July 23, 2020 - Court Appeal & Petition Filed

The Save Your Courthouse Committee filed a Notice of Appeal with the Ninth District Court of Appeals in Medina County on July 23, 2020. This appeals the final judgment in favor of the City in the taxpayer's lawsuit regarding the validity of the City Ordinance passed for the County/City Courthouse project. The Ordinance was not passed pursuant to the City Charter, State law or local Ordinances.

Also on July 23, 2020, the Save Your Courthouse Committee delivered to the City of Medina Finance Director the Courthouse Initiative Petitions with a sufficient number of signatures of qualified electors of the City of Medina. After verification of the signatures by the Board of Elections, voters in the City of Medina may vote in November to block the City’s participation in the joint City/County Courthouse project.

51 people collected signatures. Petitions with 1,857 signatures were submitted.

The Save Your Courthouse Committee appreciates your help in circulating and signing the Petitions!

Court Decides against Medina residents

The drive to put the more than $60 million Medina Courthouse Project on the ballot for a vote by the citizens of Medina became more important than ever as a result of a Court decision handed down June 24, 2020. Several residents of Medina had sought to have the City Ordinance authorizing the City’s participation in the Joint City-County Courthouse Project declared invalid. However, the decision issued by retired Judge Richard McMonagle held that the City’s Ordinance was properly enacted.

“The residents who brought the lawsuit showed that the Ordinance was enacted in violation of the City Charter, as well as multiple Ohio statutes and several other Medina City Ordinances”, said Pat Walker, one of the residents who brought the lawsuit. “The Court’s decision did not address the City’s repeated failures to abide by the Rule of Law. We will appeal this incorrect decision. However, the current Courthouse may be torn down before the appeal can be decided.”

Commissioner Declares Courthouse Will Be Demolished – Citizens Say No

At the meeting of the Courthouse Steering Committee held on June 2, Medina County Commissioner William Hutson declared that a final decision has been made to tear down the iconic, white columned 1969 Medina County Courthouse. Hutson stated that the Commissioners have made their decision and the people will not be given a vote on the issue.

However, the bipartisan citizens group, Save Your Courthouse Committee, is currently gathering signatures on an Initiative Petition that will prevent Hutson from demolishing the Courthouse without a vote of the people. If the citizens are able to get enough signatures, the issue will be placed on the November ballot for the citizens of the City of Medina to decide.

“A majority of people are strongly against this project,” said Pat Walker, a member of the Save Your Courthouse Committee. “Some people do not want the Courthouse that they consider to be the jewel of Medina’s Public Square to be demolished. Others consider the costs of the project, which have been most recently estimated to be in excess of $64 million, to be an unreasonable expenditure of taxpayer money at a time when the City and likely the County are having to take drastic steps to reduce their budgets.”

Here’s what the Medina Gazette had to say: Community groups will have input on courthouse's exterior

PUT THE COURTHOUSE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT

The Save Your Courthouse Committee is gathering signatures of registered Medina City voters to put an initiatve on the November 2020 ballot to stop the Courthouse Project. Anyone who wants to help collect signatures or to sign the petition is urged to contact Pat Walker, 330-722-5567, savemedinacourthouse@gmail.com.

Voters who want to sign the petition should look for a red “Sign Courthouse Petition Here” sign at Walker & Jocke, 231 South Broadway, Medina (across from Garfield Elementary School) in Medina. Every Thursday night from 5 to 7 pm, every Saturday from 1 to 4 pm and every Sunday from 1 to 4 pm through the end of June, just drive by 231 South Broadway, across from Garfield Elementary School. Just stop in the driveway and sign the petition right from your car. To sign at another time, just contact Pat Walker, 330-722-5567, savemedinacourthouse@gmail.com.

Reply Brief in Support of Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment

A “Reply Brief in Support of Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment” was filed with the Clerk of Courts on May 15, 2020. It is a good summary of the arguments of the Taxpayers who brought the lawsuit. You can also read the City of Medina’s Reply Brief.

Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment

A “Plaintiffs' Response in Opposition to Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment” was filed with the Clerk of Courts on April 30, 2020. Medina City's response, “Brief in Opposition to Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment” was filed May 1, 2020.

Motion for Leave to File the First Supplemental Verified Taxpayer Complaint

A “Motion for Leave to File the First Supplemental Verified Taxpayer Complaint” was filed on Monday, March 16, 2020. This attacks the Medina City ordinance passed March 9, 2020: Ordinance 49-20.

CITIZENS SEEK VOTE ON COURTHOUSE PROJECT

A bipartisan group of concerned citizens is seeking to prevent the Medina County Courthouse from being torn down and replaced without a vote of the people. The group which calls itself the Save Your Courthouse Committee is circulating an initiative petition which will require a majority vote of the citizens of the City of Medina before the City can fund or participate in the Project which is estimated to cost approximately $40 million.

Here is what the petitioin states:

REQUIRE VOTE ON COURTHOUSE

Without a majority vote of the qualified electors who are residents of the City of Medina, Ohio, ("the City"), the City shall not: 1) authorize, appropriate or spend any funds for, or 2) use any city resources to carry out, or facilitate carrying out, any demolition or construction activity (whether internal or external) at the Medina County Courthouse or any structure located on the east side of the Medina Public Square including, but not limited to, 72 through 99 Public Square, Medina, Ohio. This restriction shall have the effect of law and shall be effective for a period of five (5) years.

Read the entire Press Release.

Taxpayer Lawsuit filed to Invalidate Courthouse Ordinance

Taxpayers of the City of Medina and members of the Save Your Courthouse Committee filed a taxpayer lawsuit to stop the City of Medina from spending taxpayer money on the architects and construction services manager for the joint Medina Municipal Court and Medina County Courts project on October 22, 2019. The lawsuit seeks to invalidate Medina City Ordinance No. 98-19. That City Ordinance is invalid as it was passed as an emergency measure in violation of the Medina City Charter.

City Law Director Declines to Invalidate Courthouse Ordinance

On Wednesday, September 25, 2019 the Save Your Courthouse Committee presented a written demand that the Medina City Law Director invalidate Medina City Ordinance 98-19. That Ordinance authorized the City to spend potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars for the planning and design of a joint Medina Municipal and County Courthouse. The Ordinance initially gave $133,000 of City taxpayer’s money to Medina County towards the City’s 25 per cent share of the cost for the City/County Courthouse project. The emergency passage of the Ordinance violated the Charter of the City of Medina.

On October 11, 2019 the City Law Director declined to invalidate the Courthouse Ordinance. In the correspondence the Law Director cited a 1951 case that relied on a statute that has since been repealed to declare that Ordinance 98-19 was valid. The October 12, 2019 headline “Ordinance Ruled Valid” was referring to the expected statement of the Medina City Law Director that the Medina City Ordinance is valid.

City Courthouse Money Ordinance is Invalid

Ordinance 98-19 is invalid because its enactment violates the City Charter. The City/County Courthouse demolition and construction project is a joint project of the City of Medina and Medina County. Under the Medina City Charter when the City engages in a project with another entity, the enabling ordinance cannot be passed as an emergency. Ordinance 98-19 was passed as an emergency. The Committee contends that the Ordinance, that authorized City funds for a joint City/Council project could not be validly passed as an emergency.

Initiative Petition Not Allowed on Ballot

Previously, the Committee collected more than 1,000 signatures to prevent the City from spending taxpayer money on the Courthouse project without a vote of the people. On September 17, 2019 the Ohio Supreme Court rejected the Committee’s request for additional time to gather more signatures.

There is no provision in Ohio law for a county-wide vote that is started by citizens. Only the Medina County Commissioners can put it on a countywide ballot.

Law Suits Filed Against Medina County Entities Dealing with Courthouse

Two law suits that were filed in Medina County Common Pleas Court allege that Medina County kept the Courthouse project secret. If the law suits are successful, the County Commissioners will have to scrap the architects and the $2.66 million contract and begin again. We hope to convince them to stop the entire project.

You can read the lawsuits here:

What Our Public Officials Think:

Those that do not think the people deserve a vote?!:

  • County Commissioner Bill Hutson said that the people should not have a vote (on 7/11/2019).

  • State Rep. Steven Hambley said that the people should not have a vote (on 7/22/2019) .

  • County Commissioner Pat Geissman stated she was in favor of the Courthouse Project (on 8/13/2019).

  • Commissioner Colleen Swedyk said that she was not for a vote of the people (on 8/27/2019).