Equitable lease agreement sought between the museum and city
Members of the Onaway City Commission discussed and approved a lease between the city and the Onaway Chamber of Commerce for space at the courthouse, but still have some issues to address before adopting a lease with the museum. The chamber space will be on the first floor across the hallway from the library entrance.
The proposed leases, which were prepared by city attorney Mike Vogler, were both for one year.
A problem arises with manager Joe Hefele trying to set an equitable rent for the library, chamber, and museum. In looking at the blueprints from the courthouse Hefele determined the library is renting approximately 3,096 square feet and paying $560 per month. This comes to approximately 21 cents per square foot.
THE CHAMBER would be renting 132 square feet from the city. At 21 cents per square foot, its rental payment would be $28 per month. That would be rounded up to $40 to cover utility costs. The museum, if it only uses two display rooms (and using the small, narrow area in the northern-most room for storage), would be renting 457 square feet. Its monthly rental payment would be $96.
Hefele?s initial understanding of the situation was the museum would be permitted to place displays in the main courtroom, north of the wood partitions, and that the space also could be used by other groups, with permission from the city.
That also would mean the museum would have to move displays and/or artifacts to accommodate any function. With that type of situation, the city would not charge the museum for renting the space in the courtroom.
Based on what the museum has planned for the space the displays will not be able to be moved. That brings up the question that was debated at Monday?s city commission meeting: should the city still charge the museum for the 26? x 36? space in the courtroom?
BASED ON 936 square feet, it would cost the museum an additional $196. Rounded up, the total cost would be about $300 a month.
?Understanding that the library has greater resources at its disposal, a millage, a great big gift that was left for them that they are drawing interest off of,? said Hefele. ?The museum doesn?t have those type of resources. I?m trying to keep it fair so it can?t be called into question that we are treating our tenants differently.
?Nobody would tell the library that they would have to move a row of books because we were going to slide something else in, and I think the museum would prefer the same.?
The museum made a contribution of about $14,000 to the restoration of the courthouse which is expected to be calculated as prepaid rent. That would give them rent-free space for a little more than three and a half years.
The museum does not plan to be open in the winter, so it won?t be adding to the heat bill.
Commissioner Bernie Schmeltzer said if the museum moved out items for a function, the courtroom wouldn?t accommodate a very big crowd.
The fire code allows for 50 people in the courtroom. The issue will now go before the museum board for further input. Hefele would like a decision on a lease for the museum by the next meeting.
IN OTHER matters to come before the board: ? Trick-or-treating hours will be October 31 between 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., just as they were a year ago.
? Glawe Inc. has increased its production on the sewer project by bringing a second crew to town. The company is continuing to work north of State Street, but also has begun digging south of State Street. The North First mainline sewer was scheduled to be tested for leaks and sags this week. Glawe plans to work until early December.
? Hefele?s meeting in Lansing with USDA-RD officials was extremely successful. Officials have drawn up a grant application for $286,000. The additional funds should allow the city to bring all but nine customers back into phase three. Those nine need to either have the
? Former city commission Jerry Robinson formally presented some financial figures to the board that would clear up some incorrect information reported in The Outlook two weeks ago. He wanted it noted that no formal proposal had been made and that there are more cost effective options available to the city, and he believes information he handed to board members backs that up.
? A special meeting has been scheduled for Monday at 5:30 p.m. to discuss an evaluation of police chief Jim Gibson.