Council tables Perry House lease renewal amid questions about display, insurance and public benefit

Councilors on March 16 voted to table a proposed ordinance renewing a lease so the Chamber of Commerce and the Jasper County Historical Society can continue occupying the Perry House, a small museum and visitor center adjacent to Town Hall in Ridgeland.

Staff described the draft five-year lease and said tenants (Chamber and Historical Society) are responsible for routine maintenance and liability insurance while the county will handle major repairs. The lease language also allows the council to adjust rates based on public benefit and service provided.

Several council members and residents questioned how the building is used and whether historical holdings are accessible. Councilman Ciccarelli read a resident email describing archival material stored in the attic and concerns that the Historical Society has not made its records available for public genealogical research. “The Historical Society has not openly shared their records with the public nor Jasper County residents,” he read into the record.

Other council members asked for a clearer accounting of insurance coverage, tenant performance, and display strategy; the council chair suggested counsel and staff coordinate with the Chamber and Historical Society and that the matter be returned with additional documentation. The chair and vice chair agreed to table the entire ordinance and lease so staff can gather materials, and the chair asked counsel to route questions to the Chamber and Historical Society via staff.

What happens next: Staff will collect additional documentation (insurance certificates, usage metrics, display plans, and written responses from the Chamber and Historical Society) and return the item to the council at the next regular meeting or special session.