Company is ready to lease building in the town’s industrial park
The Century Council Monday night approved Mayor Ben Boutwell to sign the conceptual lease agreement drawn up by town attorney Matt Dannheisser, with a few grammatical and verbiage changes made, that would allow an unnamed manufacturing company to operate out of the old Starter Sportswear Building in the town’s industrial park for the next five years.
Danita Andrews with FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance, which serves as the economic development opportunity facilitator for Escambia County (Fla.), approached the council for a second time after council members had a chance to review the contract, which they had not reviewed to discuss at the last council meeting on Jan. 16, so the item was tabled.
At $2.35 per square foot-amount, which was recommended in the appraisal report, the town would receive $94,000 annually or $7,833 per month for the next five years according to the contract.
Andrews, representing the unnamed company, said the five-year lease will be a triple net lease, which means the company will take care of all operating costs, insurance, property taxes and maintenance. She said 120 days prior to the end of the lease, the town will have the chance to consider renewing for an additional five year period. At that time is when any new negotiations or changes to the contract will take place.
“We view this as a town of Century economic development project,” said Andrews. “It’s for a manufacturing operation with potential of bringing 20 jobs, a conservative estimate. Company feels they will exceed that, they just don’t know by how much, depends on types pf machines they install and how quickly that gets up and running.”
Andrews met with each council member individually recently to discuss any concerns and to make sure council members are clear on the terms and to answer any questions they had.
“They are very anxious to have the town’s support of their business here in Century,” said Andrews. “With the potential approval of this document, that gives them the assurance that the town wants them here.”
Andrews said the company can’t wait around, that they need a decision.
Councilman Luis Gomez expressed concern about why the company is ‘anxious’ to move forward.
“Business is business and doing something anxious doesn’t benefit the town of Century,” said Gomez. “Doing something professional does.”
Gomez brought up that past administrations have not done things by the book and clarified he is looking at this potential business for Century’s best interest, citing that in five years, the council and mayor may be made up of different people. He pointed out that the contract states the company has 120 days prior to the end of contract to renew and asked who will be aware that term is approaching so the council can be made aware and possibly revisit before the contract automatically renews, a practice that Gomez said has happened in past administrations, causing problems.
“We have to leave proper paperwork that is fully explained and clear in place for the people who may be here,” said Gomez.
Gomez was concerned with who ‘the town’ is actually made up of, explaining that he would like to know who is keeping a watch on the days leading up ti the end of a contract.
“Whose responsibility is it going to be prior to the 120 days to reach out to these people if they’re not living up to what they’re doing for the town of Century?”
Andrews assured him that would be evident, explaining its the town’s, mayor’s and council’s responsibility.
“Part of my role with FloridaWest is reaching out our existing industries and staying in touch with them on a regular basis to make sure they are doing well, that there’s no additional needs they may have or if there’s a hurdle or regulatory issue,” said Andrews.
Andrews explained the town will continue to have a representative from economic development and credited the relationship between the council, mayor and the business owners as the continuous connectivity to assure there will be an opportunity to revisit in the future.
Gomez cited past administrations and the fact that the town has had contracts for 30 years without a revision or renegotiation and that his goal is to keep that from happening in the future.
“No one felt the need to go back and review,” said Gomez. “I want backstops in place for the next generation up here. That’s all.”
Town Clerk Leslie Howington explained to the council that she has a created a continuous spreadsheet that will help with forward movement for the town economically to keep up with contracts such as this one. Howington clarified the list of changes to be made as Interim Councilwoman Alicia Johnson made a motion to approve, which was seconded by Interim Councilwoman Shelisa McCall Abraham. The motion carried unanimously.
