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Council declines immediate approval of Bigwood event‑center lease, sends options to Committee of the Whole
Summary
Council members debated terms of a proposed space lease at 921 Western Ave. (Bigwood Event Center/Country Inn & Suites), raising concerns about low effective rent, utilities reimbursement, snow/mowing costs and potential taxability. The initial resolution failed; council voted to return the matter to the Committee of the Whole with options including in‑kind marketing.
City of Fergus Falls council members on Feb. 2 declined to approve a proposed lease that would allow the new owner of the Country Inn & Suites to continue using front‑desk and lobby space inside the Bigwood Event Center.
The lease, presented by city staff and explained by Andrew Grama, would either let the buyer assume an existing agreement or enter a new lease on identical terms. Grama said staff prepared a new lease “with identical terms to the existing lease, to allow the hotel to keep their front desk and lobby space within the footprint of the city's event center.”
Supporters urged the council to avoid jeopardizing a pending sale. “I don't wanna see…
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