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Chamber and county will negotiate on old courthouse
The county commission and Chamber of Commerce will resume negotiations on the use of the old courthouse.
By William Snowden
Chamber and county will resume talks on courthouse By WILLIAM SNOWDEN wsnowden@thewakullanews.net The county commission and Chamber of Commerce will resume negotiations on the use of the old courthouse. After a sometimes contentious workshop last month to work out issues, Chamber President Kimberly Moore told commissioners this week, "I appreciate the tone of tonight's meeting." County staff brought up the issue at the meeting on Monday, March 1, offering a list off issues that the board had agreed on at their Feb. 4 workshop, but offering a list as well of issues that needed clarification. The issue hinges on the fact that the county owns the old courthouse, which is leased by the Chamber as used as its headquarters. The historic wooden courthouse, built in 1893, had fallen into disrepair before the Chamber took it over and renovated it. But there have been continuing questions over the lease agreement between the parties: which is responsible for liability insurance? maintenance? which approves subleases of the space? And since the old courthouse had been rented for at least one wedding, there was the question of whether alcohol could served in a county building. At the February workshop, the commission agreed to purchase liability insurance and waivers for sublease of the building; to consider providing county security service; and to do a cost-analysis on what would be required to offer maintenance for the building. That left some questions unanswered: what are allowable uses of the facility? and should the county and Chamber throw out the existing lease agreement for a new agreement? County Commissioner Alan Brock was directed to negotiate, along with County Administrator Ben Pingree and County Attorney Heather Encinosa, with the Chamber and come up with some sort of agreement to bring back to the board. One issue was definitely resolved: "Alcohol is off the table," Moore said. County policies prohibit alcohol on county property and the Chamber accepted that. Chairman Howard Kessler said he sensed "the spirit to move forward in a positive way."
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