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Hope Mills authorizes lease, program contract with TJ Robertson Life Center to expand recreation capacity
Summary
The board authorized the town manager to negotiate and execute a lease and community-program agreement with the TJ Robertson Life Center to secure additional gym space and expand programs; the motion set spending authority 'not to exceed $30,000' for the lease and included a revenue-sharing arrangement for community programs.
Parks and Recreation staff told the Hope Mills board on Aug. 11 that the department has been negotiating use of the TJ Robertson Life Center to provide expanded gym and community programming while the town pursues longer-term space solutions.
Deputy staff described two proposed agreements: a space-lease arrangement that staff estimated would provide roughly 142 hours of annual access (staff cited a working rate of about $70 per hour for up to three courts) and a community-program contract to deliver classes and activities with a revenue-sharing approach. Parks staff said the agreements were the result of months of negotiation with the TJ Robertson Center.
The motion the board approved authorized the town manager to negotiate and execute the lease and a community-program contract with stated caps. According to the motion recorded in the transcript, the board authorized agreements "not to exceed $30,000 for the lease agreement and $5,500 monthly for established community" programs and to establish budget authority for part-time staff to operate the expanded offerings.
Why this matters: Town staff and several commissioners framed the agreements as a near-term way to expand program capacity to meet demand expressed in strategic-planning work and by public commenters, especially for youth and senior programming. Staff said the arrangement can ramp up programming quickly while the town continues to pursue permanent facilities.
Questions and clarifications: Commissioners asked about senior programs and fees; a TJ Robertson representative (Charlotte) said senior activities generally collect small participant fees (about $15 monthly in the representative’s description) used for supplies and trips, and that seniors from Hope Mills are welcome to participate. Staff also said they will monitor revenues and participation and that some rental or program costs will be offset if program registrations increase.
Outcome: The board approved the authorization by motion and voice vote; the transcript records the motion and describes the budget caps as stated above. Staff will return with executed terms and any required budget amendments.
Provenance: Topic introduced by Parks and Recreation staff (topicintro: SEG 1610–SEG 1636) and finalized with the board motion and approval (topfinish: SEG 1716–SEG 1726).
