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Commission tables Metcalf Center lease after senior-center director warns new terms would shift major repairs to nonprofit
Summary
The commission delayed action on a lease renewal with the Metcalf Center after the Smelter City Senior Citizen Center’s director told commissioners clauses requiring the nonprofit to pay for structural repairs and allowing 15-day termination would endanger services; commissioners asked county staff and Metcalf representatives to renegotiate terms.
Anaconda — The Anaconda Deer Lodge County Commission voted to table consideration of a lease renewal with the Metcalf Center after the Smelter City Senior Citizen Center’s director raised concerns that revised lease language would require the nonprofit to be responsible for structural repairs and permit a 15-day termination notice.
"This section places the responsibility for all building maintenance, including structural integrity and major systems on us," said JC, director of the Smelter City Senior Citizen Center. JC said the 2020 lease language was a substantial change from prior agreements and that a 15-day termination clause would leave the nonprofit unable to relocate or continue critical services such as Meals on Wheels.
Commissioners responded that requiring a nonprofit that provides senior services to shoulder capital repairs paid for with taxpayers’ dollars was inappropriate. One commissioner said the building "was built by taxpayer money" and that the county should not shift that financial burden to a nonprofit.
County staff and the county attorney said the 2020 contract language was updated to correct drafting errors from older templates and recommended the parties meet to clarify responsibilities. The county attorney and CEO offered to work with Metcalf Center representatives to revise the contract language before bringing it back to the commission.
The commission instructed staff to have representatives from the Metcalf Center, the county attorney's office and the CEO's office revisit the agreement; the chair declared the agreement tabled pending that review.
Next steps: staff will coordinate meetings with Metcalf Center representatives and return to the commission with a revised lease that addresses maintenance and termination provisions.
