Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council OKs 20-year ground lease allowing Ellis County Master Gardeners to build greenhouse at senior center
Summary
Council approved a 20-year ground lease for the Ellis County Master Gardeners to install and operate a greenhouse adjacent to the Waxahachie Senior Activity Center; Master Gardeners will fund construction and maintenance while the city provides site preparation and an estimated $1,500/year for utilities.
The Waxahachie City Council approved a ground lease and operating agreement with the Ellis County Master Gardeners to construct and operate a greenhouse adjacent to the Waxahachie Senior Activity Center.
John Smith, the senior center director, and Gail Johnston, representing the Master Gardeners, described a plan to repurpose roughly 700 square feet of an existing STEAM garden into a greenhouse for plant propagation and education. Johnston said the proposed structure is a robust 15-by-28-foot greenhouse with reinforced framing, quarter-inch tempered glass, evaporative coolers, humidity control and other equipment sized to support propagation and educational programs.
The Master Gardeners will cover construction and ongoing maintenance costs. Staff noted $32,000 is available in the Senior Activity Center’s STEM budget to support site preparation, and the city’s ongoing utility obligation was estimated at about $1,500 annually. The Master Gardeners will carry liability insurance and name the city as an additional insured. The ground lease term is 20 years at a nominal rent of $10 per year.
Council expressed support for the project’s educational mission and low fiscal impact. Council approved the ground lease with an amendment to clarify a notice address in section 15 and authorized execution of documents.
Next steps: staff and Master Gardeners will finalize lease documents and coordinate site preparation and installation.
