Stafford supervisors defer lease increase after debate over county gymnastics facility

Chairwoman Meg Bohnke and members of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 1 debated whether to accept a landlord’s proposed increase for the county’s leased gymnastics facility and instead asked staff to negotiate and return with alternatives.

Supervisor Doctor Young said the existing facility is “run down” and questioned whether the county should continue leasing an aging space or invest in a long‑term solution for children who use the center. Young said the landlord, identified as Osborne, proposed what he described as “over 66% increase in the lease” and questioned whether the county should be charged for infrastructure upgrades that the landlord should have addressed earlier.

Brian Southall, director of parks, recreation, facilities and tourism, told the board the county’s annual lease payment is “a hundred and 77,000” and that the landlord covered recent safety repairs after a structural block fell from a firewall inside the building. “We worked with the fire marshal, inspectors, and the owners of the facility. They replaced all those at their cost,” Southall said.

Some supervisors urged caution. Supervisor Diggs noted the county had secured land as part of the Belmont project that could accommodate a new gymnastics center and asked staff to evaluate alternatives before approving higher rent. “There is a plan in the future” tied to Belmont, Diggs said, adding that the board needs to consider where children would go if the county walked away from the current facility.

After discussion the board did not vote to accept the landlord’s increase. Instead, members directed staff to go back and negotiate with the owner and to return with options, including potential purchase, relocation, or keeping the current lease under revised terms.

The board’s request leaves any decision about a lease increase to a future meeting after staff negotiations and follow‑up reporting.