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Copperas Cove council approves lease of Allen House to Historical Society, pledges $150,000 in matching funds
Summary
Council authorized a 10-year lease (with two five-year options) to the Copperas Cove Historical Society for the Allen House at 401 N. Main, and directed staff to prepare a forthcoming $150,000 budget amendment to provide matching funds for grants to restore the property.
The Copperas Cove City Council on Feb. 4 authorized the city manager to sign a lease with the Copperas Cove Historical Society for the Allen House, a city-owned historic house at 401 North Main Street.
City Manager Ryan Havelock told council the proposed lease is an initial 10-year term with two additional five-year renewal options, for a potential total of 20 years. The Historical Society would be responsible for inspecting the premises with the city, prioritizing repairs and improvements, inventorying personal property in the building, paying utilities, seeking and managing grants for restoration in partnership with the city, and reporting annually to council on activities and grant status.
Under the lease terms described to council, the city will inspect the premises with the Historical Society and will allocate $150,000 within six months of executing the lease. Havelock said those funds are intended exclusively as matching funds for grants the Historical Society secures in partnership with the city and would not be released directly to the society. He said the $150,000 is not budgeted in the current fiscal year and will require a future budget amendment drawn from the general fund balance; he also said hotel occupancy tax funds are legally eligible but not recommended because the tax fund is fully committed to other uses.
Havelock reviewed the property’s recent administrative history: the city stopped renting the Allen House in 2015, listed it for sale briefly, removed it from sale, and later received renewed interest. Council previously directed staff in 2023 to work with the Historical Society on options, and the lease was prepared after the society said it lacked resources to purchase the property.
A council member moved to authorize the lease; Councilmember Fanya Hart seconded. The motion carried on a voice vote. Havelock said staff will present a budget amendment for the $150,000 appropriation in the coming months and will coordinate grant applications with the Historical Society if the lease is executed.
The lease assigns grant-writing and management tasks to the Historical Society while keeping the city involved in grant compliance because the city retains ownership of the building.
