Commissioners approve lease to move Change Academy into DeKalb Central space

DeKalb County commissioners on June 9 authorized President Bill to sign a lease-like rental agreement with DeKalb Central to move the Change Academy program into space the school corporation already occupies.

County staff explained a committee had evaluated several commercial spaces but found accessibility and renovation costs made them impractical. DeKalb Central offered a portion of a building already in its use that could house multiple county programs and provide economies of scale.

Andrew (county staff) was described as drafting a sublease that will define the portion of the building the county will use; the arrangement will be rent with utilities included. The monthly charge discussed at the meeting was $2,308.75. Commissioners approved a motion authorizing Bill, as president of the commissioners, to sign the document once drafted.

Commissioners and staff said the move will let the county share utilities, printing and food services, eliminating a copier charge and other recurring costs at the program's previous location. Staff estimated the combined rent-plus-utilities at the new location will be a modest net savings compared with the prior arrangement (previous rent $1,500 plus utilities and other operating costs).

Discussion versus decision: commissioners reviewed options, discussed the accounting distinction between lease and rent for 1099 reporting, and asked staff to include the monthly amount in the approval. The formal action at the meeting authorized the president to sign the rental agreement for $2,308.75 per month, utilities included.

Implementation details: staff said a moving company was scheduled to help relocate furniture and equipment the following Monday and IT would coordinate network and camera transfers with the school's IT department. The agreement will be finalized as a sublease/rental agreement between the county and DeKalb Central and recorded in county files.