A revised lease between the City of Washington and the Beaufort County Police Activities League clarifies some lease elements related to static displays and a storage facility.

Those clarifications were made during the City Council’s meeting Monday, when the council amended the original lease, approved by the council in September. The lease pertains to the use of city land next to Washington-Warren Field by BCPAL for its Aviation, Technology and Fitness Center. The lease modifications are minor according to Frankie Buck, the city’s public-works director.

The center’s facilities will include, but are not limited to, a simulator room where patrons will learn flight and boating fundamentals, a multipurpose classroom, a fitness center (addressing physical fitness, nutrition and other health-related concerns) and a laboratory where patrons may construct airplane models and other items related to their studies and research. The city’s Airport Advisory Board recommended approval of the center. The proposal has been reviewed and cleared by the N.C. Division of Aviation and the Federal Aviation Administration.

City Manager Bobby Roberson told the council that BCPAL approached the city about modifying the original lease, with city officials reviewing the request and it being sent to City Attorney Franz Holscher for additional reviews.

“After the council initially considered and approved this lease, there were some things that staff noted and staff discussed with me that we might change. Thereafter we had a revision or a suggested revision from the PAL group. We got together, staff and I did, and decided what our position was as to their suggested changes and made some of those changes,” Holscher said. “Then, at a later date, we got another revision, or suggested revision from them, and we got together again and responded to that.” Following that action, city officials and BCPAL leaders met and developed the wording for a revised lease, he said.

Among the proposed changes to the lease was a provision allowing BCPAL to erect two static displays at the center, with the provision that BCPAL submit written plans and/or drawings that the city might require before granting approval for the displays.

Councilman Doug Mercer said he wanted final approval for static displays and construction of an outside storage building to rest with city officials, including the council. Mercer expressed concern that the wording of the lease indicates once BCPAL erects a static display and keeps it in “reasonably good shape we can’t do anything about it.” Mercer also expressed concern that BCPAL could build an outside storage shed that met building codes but does not blend in well with the center and adjacent airport terminal.

The council decided the city manager and/or the council would have final say concerning the static displays and storage building.