The Allen County Board of Commissioners and Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry today announced that an agreement has been reached to resolve outstanding funding issues related to the co-location of City and County government offices in Citizens Square and the City-County Building.

Details of the solution were finalized this week following recent discussions between the Commissioners and City officials. Under the terms of the arrangement:

• The City agrees to complete its contribution of $1million toward the build out of Public Safety areas at the City-County Building by making a second payment of $500,000 to the County.  The first payment was made on December 1.
• The City and County agree that each will consider payments for City rent at the City-County Building for the first four months of 2011 and the upgrades to Citizens Square  made to County offices an even exchange, requiring no further payment by either party on these matters. 

“As partners in bringing nearly all local government together to better serve the public and make our community more welcoming to business, this agreement presents a simple way to reconcile building expenditures and ensure the wise use of tax dollars,” said Mayor Henry. “We are one community, and with each step forward, we are working to realize the full benefits of co-location and collaboration for all our residents.”

 “Any delay in the project would have been a hardship not only to the public safety units of City and County government, but to the taxpayers of Allen County as well,” said Therese Brown, Allen County Commissioner.  “We are pleased to have been able to work out these issues with Mayor Henry and appreciate the City honoring its funding pledge so the renovations at the CCB can continue moving forward.”

Renovations to the City-County Building are expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2012. The building will serve as headquarters for the City and County police departments along with several County government offices including assessor, auditor, recorder and treasurer.  The building will eventually be renamed to honor longtime elected official Ed Rousseau.