April 22, 2021
By: Dwayne Page
The County Commission will again try to settle on terms for leasing the Cherry Hill Community Center when it meets in regular monthly session Monday night.
Jason Carver, the owner of JBeez Watercraft near Silver Point on Highway 56 wants to possibly open up a restaurant there and apparently is willing to sign on to a five year lease with three more renewable five year options up to 20 years but terms of the offer may change after a meeting of the county commission’s public works committee Wednesday night, April 21.
In the original proposal the rent for the first five years would be $500 per month and increase by $100 per month in the subsequent five year intervals ($600 per month in years 6-10, $700 per month in years 11-15, and $800 per month in years 16-20). Under the terms, Carver would be responsible for maintaining the HVAC, roof and septic system and all general upkeep of the building and grounds including walls, floors, ceilings, parking areas, driveways, sidewalk, landscaping, etc. Both the county and Carver would carry liability insurance on the property.
Although the commissioners signaled their support of the move during the regular monthly meeting on March 22 they wanted to see the deal in writing and voted have the county mayor direct the county attorney to prepare a lease for them to vote on in April. A week later on Tuesday, March 30 a special meeting was held to consider approval of the agreement but after several motions and amendments, the commission could not muster the seven votes needed to grant the lease. Some commissioners thought the county was acting too quickly and should take more time to consider terms of the lease. Others thought a potential 20 year lease was too long.
During Wednesday night’s meeting, the public works committee voted to recommend changes from the original proposal.
Commissioner Jerry Adcock said he could not not support a potential 20 year lease.
“I don’t mind going five years but I don’t believe in giving him the only option to keep redoing this. We should have the option also. After five years we should renegotiate. If he (tenant) wants to put the money in to do this (make improvements) he can and we will in good faith consider that and we could extend him a year or two years otherwise its like giving him a blank check and saying this is yours for the next 20 years if you want it. Its not far off the Interstate. If someone wanted to come in and buy it and put a McDonalds there it would be worth more to us than to leasing him,” said Adcock.
Commissioner Myron Rhody pointed out that under terms of a lease with Carver over twenty years the county stands to gain up to $200,000 while it is currently getting no income off the property and still having to maintain it.
“I understand what you are saying Jerry but we need to figure out some way to entice him (tenant) to stay and invest money in it because he is running out of time to get it up and running for his season,” said Rhody.
The committee ultimately adopted a recommendation based on a motion by Commissioner Beth Pafford to offer a five year lease to Carver for $500 per month including terms that he be responsible for all upkeep, maintenance, repairs, and improvements and that at the end of the five year period Carver be given the first opportunity to purchase the property at fair market value if it is legal for the county to sell it without taking bids.
Members of the committee voting to make that recommendation to the full county commission were Beth Pafford, Myron Rhody, Jerry Adcock, and Matt Adcock.