FAIRFIELD — With one hard decision under their belts, city leaders now are focusing on whether to build a new justice center or expand onto the existing one.

        Council has agreed to continue working on the community center until at least the November elections.

        In the meantime, they won't decide until at least next month what to do with the justice center, but discussed options this week that will cost from $5.2 million to $10.2 million.

        They almost immediately ruled out the $5.2 million choice of minimally adding to the existing facility because they deemed it a Band-Aid for a few years that will not solve the crowding and operational problems.

        “That would be like putting earrings on a hog,” Councilman Ron D'Epifanio said.

        City staff will compile a list of all available parcels of land in Fairfield for a new site for the justice center.

        Quarters are so tight at the justice center, located off Ohio 4, bailiffs work out of a broom closet and police officers must take reports in the foyer on flat-top garbage cans, Municipal Judge Joyce Campbell said.

        Judge Campbell and Police Chief Michael Dickey say they want the city to build a new facility instead of adding onto the existing one because they say that makes more sense from an operational standpoint

        It isn't certain where, or even if, the city would move the justice center but that is sure to be the next debate.

        The city recently spent $760,000 to buy the Kroger shopping plaza on Wessel Drive across from the Fairfield Municipal Center but a minority of council members do not want to put the justice center that close to Village Green, the city's new downtown. They want to see more high-end development there.

        Village Green also is where they plan to locate the $9.6 million community center, scheduled to open by the end of 2004. The 45,000-square-foot facility will hold a theater and offer senior activities and meeting space.

        Village Green now holds an amphitheater, park, public library, restaurants, offices and shopping, and more development is under way.

        On Monday, council formally voted to spend $275,000 on design and other plans for the community center to move it forward until at least the November election.

        The city can afford to build the community center or the justice center.

        But to do both at the same time, voters this fall will be asked to shuffle 0.1 percentage point — or about $1.2 million a year — of the city's 1.5 percent income tax from the street improvement fund to the general fund.

        Voters have approved similar measures in the past, and there will be no tax increase.

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