Committee backs 1-year lease at 417 Second Ave for Huntington Police storage

The Administration and Finance Committee on April 28 voted to forward to full council a resolution authorizing the mayor to enter a one-year lease with Hetzer Realty LLC for 3,589 square feet of storage at 417 Second Avenue to be used by the Huntington Police Department.

The lease rate is $5.68 per square foot, producing a monthly rent figure of about $1,700; the city will also pay electricity costs in arrears as billed. The agreement includes one-year renewal options. Scott Dammer, the city attorney, told the committee the space has been inspected and “improved to the point that it's satisfactory to HPD,” and that the lease “serves the purpose of authorizing the lease that will provide storage for the Huntington Police Department.”

Committee members discussed the storage need in light of an existing city-owned building being converted to an emergency shelter. Council member Rumbaugh asked whether the previously used storage building (discussed in the meeting as 9096 Third Avenue West) was the same structure now slated to become the shelter. Dammer and others clarified that the building that will become the emergency shelter had previously been used for storage and that the city now needs alternative storage. Dammer said the one-year term and renewal option do not represent a permanent solution and noted the city may consider building on the Armory property in the future, but that would be substantially more expensive.

Committee members also asked whether nearby utility or stormwater construction would affect the leased unit; Dammer said he was familiar with the local project and did not expect impacts to the leased space.

A motion to forward the resolution to full council with a favorable recommendation passed without recorded opposition. Council member Rumbaugh agreed to sponsor the item at full council.