BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
Top photo: Mayor Bill Gillespie addressing the Council concerning a lease with FEMA to rent a former bank building on Main Street which is now owned by the city. (Still photo from Council video.)
Tuesday night, the Prattville Council voted 4-2 in favor of authorizing Mayor Bill Gillespie to enter into a lease agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The organization will lease the old bank building located at 124 West Main Street for at least three months, with the option to extend the lease. FEMA will pay $110,000 per month for the roughly 35,000 square foot building.
Speaking in opposition during public comments prior to the vote was Prattville resident Jon Lee Finnegan, who said she does not agree with charging an organization “that is trying to help people,” that amount of money.
“I am here to protest the lease amount of a lease agreement with FEMA for the former bank building. If it was a private individual, I would say great. But for FEMA, that money should be used to the survivors and the people impacted by the storm. Even though that is money coming for the city, if it had been somebody, or an organization, or a private business, I wouldn’t complain but getting FEMA money – $110,000 a month for three months with the option to have another three months. That property was bought for $1.3 million. So even the six-month lease would make up half of the money that we paid. It just bothers me. I just wanted to let it be known how disappointed I am. I just don’t think this is the right way to spend FEMA money and the taxpayers money to rent a building.”
Finnegan was asked by District 5 Council member Blair Gornto if she would prefer to see FEMA pay a different amount or have the building for free.
“I think that would be great, if they pay for everything. They are helping people and you are taking that money that, in my mind, should go to the survivors and victims of the tornadoes and it could be used in so many other places.”
In his Mayor’s report to the Council, Mayor Bill Gillespie said the lease agreement between the City and FEMA is a win-win for all involved. He encouraged council support to ratify the lease.
“I would like to thank the Economic Development team for helping FEMA get located here. Because the newest tenant in downtown Prattville is FEMA. We welcome them to our community. They will be helping many of our Autauga (and statewide) displaced residents from the recent tornado events.”
Gillespie said FEMA employees are making Prattville their temporary home, eating and shopping in Prattville. They are staying in local hotels.
“The vast majority of the 200 FEMA employees are staying in the Prattville community,” he said.
“I am proud to say they have been a good corporate neighbor and I am excited to see them here.”
“We were really fortunate to have the bank building situated like it was. When FEMA first came to us, we started working with them to get them a place at Highpoint Shopping Center and we sort of worked our way down. They found the bank and they said that is exactly what they need. I think it is a win-win-win.”
Gillespie said the agreement with FEMA is a good deal for them. “Because (FEMA) was going to be paying an individual to rent a building. I know this council will take this money…and it can be put to very good use.”
Prior to the vote, Councilman Gornto said, “I have thought about what Mrs. Finnegan said and (Finnegan) does make a good point.”
He asked if there is a ballpark figure of what utilities would run for a building the size of the bank per month. He was told it is unknown until the bill comes, but could be in the area of around $10,000 to $15,000 per month.
Gornto asked if it would be possible to amend the agreement in a way to show that FEMA would cover the cost of utilities without an exact number of what the bill would be. He was told the lease has already been signed with FEMA. The vote before the council was to either vote for against the lease agreement which has already been signed.
There would have to be a new contract drawn up to make any changes. When the vote was taken to ratify the agreement Gornto was the only “nay” vote, with the item passing the Council.
