CITY COUNCIL PRESENTS, DISCUSSES CHANGES TO MUSEUM LEASE AGREEMENT

  

Lease changes between the City of Brenham and the Brenham Heritage Museum were discussed during today’s (Thursday) City Council meeting.

City Attorney Carey Bovey gave details regarding a revised lease agreement between the two parties.  According to Bovey, the new lease would extend the term to 50 years.  This would allow the museum, at 105 South Market Street, ample time to seek grants for the necessary repairs and renovation.

The new lease would also give the museum some latitude in making changes to the interior of the building.  In addition, the city would take responsibility for maintaining the building’s roof and foundation.  All other repairs would fall upon the museum.  Before the museum closed last August due to electrical code violations, it was solely responsible for all maintenance and upkeep.  Repairs are expected to cost more than half a million dollars.

This lease would require the museum to staff the Brenham Fire Museum at least four days a week, and the city would get two seats on the museum’s board of directors.

Finally, the city states that the museum must begin repairs by April 1, 2020, and it must open to the public no later than October 2021.

The museum board has not seen these changes to the lease.  The city was to discuss the changes in executive session, and expects to have a draft sent to the Heritage Museum by the end of the week.