Fenton to Lease Depot to Southern Lakes Parks & Recreation

(SLPR) will be leasing the historic depot building, for $1 per year, as an office location.

The depot, located at 207 Silver Lake Road, has been empty since spring 2008 and was last used by former city employee Brent Morgan, for an economic development office, said City Manager Lynn Markland. Since then, Fenton's Friends of the Library used it for storage for their book sale.

The two-year lease is from May 1, 2011 to April 30, 2013. SLPR will pay the city of Fenton $1 annually, and cover repairs and maintenance and utility costs. In addition, it is not able to alter the historical significance of the building.

SLPR approached the city on the issue, since it has offices in the (FCCC). Opening offices in the depot will allow SLPR to be closer to its other offices, Markland said. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

SLPR will move its employees from its location at .

City attorney Stephen Schultz said the lease allows the city and SLPR each the ability to end the agreement, with 90 days' notice. Fenton will be protected by SLPR's liability insurance and will be held harmless on any injuries occurring as a result of SLPR's use of the property.

Vince Paris, director of SLPR, said he wouldn't have thought about the depot building without President Shelly Day, of the Fenton Regional Chamber of Commerce. Day suggested the depot building to Paris when he was looking for offices in the city of Fenton, to get SLPR's staff physically closer together.

SLPR provides recreational opportunities in the local area, and is supported by a perpetual .4 mils residents of and the cities of Fenton and Linden approved in November 2000.