Clarkston council rejects church lease that would shift square maintenance costs to town

The Clarkston Town Council voted on Nov. 18 to reject a lease proposed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that would transfer full responsibility for maintaining the town square and related park grounds to the town.

Speaker 4 presented the lease and said the church’s proposed terms would require the town to assume mowing, sprinkler maintenance, water costs, repairs and full liability insurance. Speaker 4 outlined estimated costs: "We usually average about 30 weeks of mowing. That would cost the town $16,500," and added sprinkler winterization and repair estimates and a total cost estimate in the transcript near $21,630 (the transcript includes a conflicting $20,000 figure when describing the town share).

Speaker 4 recommended rejecting the offer as written: "My recommendation to the council tonight is to reject this offer as it stands." Speaker 5 moved to reject the lease and Speaker 1 seconded; the council voted to reject the proposal. Speaker 4 also said he had consulted the town attorney and that the church’s representatives appeared to be "washing their hands of these type of facilities and properties and force them down to the people that are using them," a characterization echoed by Bob Jansen (identified in the transcript by Speaker 4) who expressed surprise at the offer.

Council members asked for a copy of the emailed lease and additional documentation to study the proposal further; Speaker 4 said he expected the church representatives or their contracting agents to return with another offer to future councils. The council recorded no approval of the lease; the motion to reject was explicit.

What happens next: Council requested the lease documentation be provided to members for review and signaled a preference to seek different terms rather than accept the present agreement.