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Bastrop council approves lease of Ditto building at 615 M Street to veteran contractor
Summary
The Bastrop City Council approved a lease authorizing the mayor to enter an agreement with Donald E. Brown for the Ditto building at 615 M Street; Brown said he plans to produce fiberglass panels for government contracting and could employ dozens depending on contracts.
The Bastrop City Council on Feb. 4 approved a lease authorizing the mayor to enter an agreement with Donald E. Brown for the Ditto building at 615 M Street.
During a public-comment period before the vote, a council member asked the council to expand the agenda so the mayor could receive authority to sign the lease. Donald E. Brown, who was present, described his background as a retired U.S. Army contractor and explained his business plans. “My goal was to build a couple fiberglass boats a month to supplement my retirement fund,” Brown said, adding he has worked on government contracting projects since retiring and holds defense-department certifications for some of his products.
Brown told the council his product is a large flexible fiberglass panel used in rapid runway repair and related defense applications and said a typical production run would require about 24 employees for two sets a day. He said the initial lease term would run from March 1 through Dec. 31 of the year and automatically renew annually unless notice is given.
Council members moved and seconded a motion to approve the lease; the council passed the motion. The lease is an "as-is" agreement, the mayor and staff said, and the tenant is responsible for inspecting and modifying the building. The lease includes a provision for Brown to receive credit toward rent for certain improvements but does not create a situation in which the city will owe a surplus credit to the lessee, staff said.
Staff said the lease gives the city an opportunity to pursue grants and other funding next summer to support further building renovations if needed. Council members and residents in the affected area reacted positively, saying Brown’s plans could bring jobs and activity to the neighborhood.
No detailed financial terms beyond the contract term and credit-for-work provision were read into the public record during the meeting.
The council’s approval cleared the way for the mayor to finalize the lease with Brown; staff said additional details about renovations and grant applications will be handled administratively.
