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Commission committee recommends 5‑year lease for UT/TSU Extension at the Agricenter
Summary
A committee recommended approval of a five‑year lease for Shelby County Extension Office at the Agricenter (5,239.92 sq ft). Presenters noted a long cooperative relationship with UT and TSU Extension, outreach to 18,000 children this fiscal year, and shared maintenance and utilities responsibilities.
The Facilities, Real Property and Capital Improvements committee recommended approval of a five‑year lease agreement between AgriCenter International, Inc. and Shelby County Government for space used by UT/TSU Extension agents at the Agricenter campus.
Esther Sykeswood introduced the item and partners from AgriCenter and the Extension office described a long‑running partnership that leverages public facilities with nonprofit and university resources. "Extension is all about research... we're actually able to do research on the grounds of the AgriCenter," said Chris Cooper, director of UT/TSU Extension at the Agricenter. Cooper added that roughly 18,000 children visited the grounds this fiscal year for educational programming.
AgriCenter representatives and county staff said the lease term reflects a cooperative model in which the nonprofit campus supports extension operations and the county and universities share costs and programming. Commissioners asked why the contract had no renewal option; AgriCenter staff said the five‑year cadence allows each new commission to review and reconfirm the partnership.
The committee recorded a favorable recommendation by voice vote and the lease will go to the full Commission.
