Commissioners approve license agreements for tenants at MLK Center despite questions about long-term use

County real-estate staff presented draft license agreements for four tenants occupying the MLK Center in Hagerstown: Head Start; Children in Need; Character Counts; and Brothers United Who Dare to Care. The agreements do not change the in-kind financial arrangement (tenants pay nominal fees and the county accounts for utilities and facility costs as in-kind contributions) but formalize authorized use areas and responsibilities.

Todd Moser, real property administrator, and Andrew Ashman, director of public works, told commissioners the gymnasium is a community asset and that the facility has not had recent capital upgrades. Commissioners asked whether the county had considered selling the property; staff said disposal had been contemplated but no active disposition plan exists and that the county expects to evaluate bids on planned renovation work before making further recommendations.

The proposed license form is structured as an initial one-year term that moves to year-to-year occupancy, with county-side termination rights written into the agreements to preserve flexibility. Commissioners discussed renovation needs, community use and the administrative convenience of licensing rather than formal rental agreements. The board voted to approve the license agreements; one commissioner cast an opposing vote on record.