Plymouth staff recommends terminating preschool lease after water damage at historic fire station; council approves refund and waiver

Plymouth — City staff told the council Aug. 11 that a water heater failure at the historic fire station caused significant second-floor water damage, ceiling collapse and loss of usable space, and recommended canceling the month-to-month lease with His Small Wonders preschool.

Jeff (city staff) said SERVPRO has been drying the building and the preschool has relocated to an alternate site. Because the lease was month-to-month, staff recommended terminating it effective Sept. 30, refunding the August rent (already paid) and waiving the September rent because the space is unusable. “Because we cannot provide a usable space under the lease, I'm recommending that we cancel that lease,” Jeff said.

Council members asked whether the preschool’s temporary location (reported by staff as Crossroads Church) would be permanent and discussed whether the city would welcome the preschool back in the future. Staff said the city released an RFP to solicit public input on longer-term uses for the historic fire station; the RFP approach is intended to identify potential grant opportunities and appropriate uses that match preservation goals.

The council moved, seconded and approved the lease termination recommendation by voice vote. Staff said they will pursue immediate repairs, continue cleanup work with SERVPRO and evaluate proposals submitted in response to the RFP.

What happens next: Staff will process the approved rent refund and lease termination, continue structural drying and cleanup, and evaluate RFP responses for potential reuse and funding opportunities.