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Sumner County tourism board flags lease gaps, insurance and repair costs at Comer House visitor center
Summary
At its May 27 meeting the Sumner County Tourism Board discussed inconsistencies in the primary lease with Rogers Group, possible short-notice termination language, insurance coverage questions, and rising maintenance costs at the Comer House visitor center. Staff said more review and follow-up with county officials is planned.
Sumner County — At a May 27 meeting, the Sumner County Tourism Board discussed what staff called inconsistencies across the primary lease and sublease for the Comer House visitor center and raised concerns about insurance, ailing building systems and growing maintenance costs.
The board’s staff member leading the report said the primary lease is between the county and Rogers Group and that the tourism board occupies the Comer House under a sublease. “The primary lease expires October,” the staff member said, adding that one document the board reviewed showed a 60-day notice but “it is 10 days on the primary lease. Basically, 10 days for no reason, nothing. They could walk out of [the] lease and you would have to leave the building.”
The staff member told the board that several maintenance items need closer review after a 2014 lease term that conveyed the building “as is.” “We’re 10 years later. There’s no way a roof and a . . . HVAC” remain in original condition, the staff member said. Board materials shared in the meeting showed tree and landscaping line items totaling about $38,000 over roughly the last 2½–3 years, which the presenter said underscored the need to analyze operating expenses and clarify which party is responsible under the lease.
The presenter also said insurance arrangements require verification. “We have to validate whether they do have insurance. It could be that we both carry the same amount of insurance,” the staff member said, adding that a rider to the Rogers Group policy could be an alternative to duplicate coverage.
Board members and staff discussed recent, limited repairs: bids are being solicited for roofing, drywall and fascia work and staff said the roof has had a patch to stop leaks. The staff member advised against a full roof replacement until lease responsibilities are clarified: “Based on where we are with the lease, I would not do a roof — just quick fix,” they said.
Why this matters: if the primary lease allows short-notice termination or leaves major repair responsibility unclear, the tourism board could face sudden relocation costs or duplicate insurance premiums. The staff member said they will bring a deeper review to the next meeting and will “reach out to the Third Floor to review the insurance and insurance aspects.”
