NO ACTION YET ON LEASE AGREEMENT AT BRENHAM MUNICIPAL AIRPORT

  

Action on a lease agreement to occupy the terminal building at the Brenham Municipal Airport has once again been delayed.

The Brenham City Council at its meeting this (Thursday) afternoon took no action on the terminal lease agreement or an amended Fixed Base Operator (FBO) agreement with Aviators Plus, instead agreeing to hold a joint work session with the Airport Advisory Board at a later date.  The council tabled action on the two items at their meeting last week.

Discussion on the items began with Councilmember Adonna Saunders motioning to approve the terminal lease agreement with the added provision of putting the Airport Advisory Board’s vice chair on the annual performance evaluation committee, which would ensure compliance with lease provisions.  She also motioned to have the agreement require Aviators Plus to complete a certain dollar amount of improvements to the terminal building within one year of the lease being executed.  If that dollar amount were met, then the annual rent would remain at the initial $2,500, plus a $2,000 annual donation; however, if the amount was not met, then rent would go up to a certain unstated amount.

Brent Nedbalek, owner of Aviators Plus, said the council needs to keep in mind that the previous occupant of the terminal building struggled to keep business while only paying the city $50 a month.

 

Development Services Director Stephanie Doland said the city has not received any type of dollar amount for an estimate of proposed improvements, and the Airport Advisory Board has not made any recommendations.

After councilmembers discussed what dollar figures would be appropriate for the total improvements required and for the increased rent, they agreed with Mayor Milton Tate’s recommendation that the facility subcommittee determine those amounts and bring them to the council.  He said a work session could be held to work out the details of the amounts before they are brought back to regular session.

Also at today’s meeting, the council:

• Met in executive session to discuss utility competitive matters pertaining to the city’s gas sales contract with West Texas Gas, Inc.
• Held executive session discussion with the city attorney regarding the possible acquisition of the Barnhill Center at the Historic Simon Theater.
• Heard the Nancy Carol Roberts Memorial Library annual report, as well as a presentation on the city’s Little Free Library program.