Council approves lease framework for Pace property; city plans in-house Ford warranty repairs and to use part of the building

The council on Oct. 5 authorized the city manager to execute lease agreements with Pace for 10 South Chicago Street and 9 Asgood Street under terms described as $0 leases for an initial two‑year period. City officials explained the county currently holds formal ownership under a prior agreement and retains it for five years; two years remain before the city can assume ownership, officials said. Beth (city staff) described the arrangement: the city will invest in improvements and intends to occupy roughly a quarter of the building initially, with potential for later rental or repurposing. The $0 lease reflects the transitional ownership structure required by Pace and the county. Council members also discussed a related operational plan to bring vehicle warranty repairs in-house. Council members said Jeff Price has placed seven‑year warranties on many city Ford vehicles over recent years; the city has about 400 Ford vehicles in its fleet. The plan is to perform warranty repairs locally, which officials said could reduce external vendor work and generate revenue from warranty reimbursements. No purchase of the property occurred Oct. 5; the action approved was authorization for the city manager to sign lease agreements and to move forward with planning for operations and improvements.