Explanation
Background: The City of Columbus owns large tracts of land in Franklin, Pickaway, and Delaware Counties held for future expansion of Department of Public Utilities Division of Water and Division of Sewerage and Drainage treatment facilities and for protection and buffering of groundwater well fields. The Department of Finance and Management, Real Estate Management Office (REMO) is responsible for the leasing of these City-owned tracts for farming purposes on behalf of the Department of Public Utilities. Leasing tillable land tracts for farming purposes benefits the City by: i) reducing costs for property management and oversight for mowing of fields, maintaining fences & tree lines, etc., ii) providing good stewardship of the land by keeping it in productive use to prevent vandalism and formation of wetland conditions, and iii) generating a small amount of income for the Division of Water and Division of Sewerage and Drainage.
Currently the City leases tillable tracts of property to eight (8) farming entities. The lease agreements with these entities will expire on November 30, 2024 and have no remaining renewal options. After an extensive review of the farming operations and stewardship practices of the current Tenants regarding their support of the City’s goals for land stewardship, it has been determined that it is the best interest of the City to extend the current leases with these Tenants to ensure consistent, professional management of the City’s tillable acreage and to preserve and manage the land in conformance with best farming practices. Consequently, an amendment of the existing leases is necessary to add an additional a five-year renewal term, establish the rental rate for the renewal term, and to make other necessary modifications.
This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Finance and Management to execute eight (8) lease amendments for the farming of available tillable acreage at various properties used in Department of Public Utilities operations in order to add a five-year renewal term, establish the rental rate for the renewal term, and make other necessary modifications.
Fiscal Impact: The rental revenue received by the City of Columbus for one lease at the Southerly Waste Water Treatment Plant will be deposited into the Sewer Operating-Sanitary Fund 6100 and the rental revenue from the remaining seven leases associated with Division of Water operations will be deposited into Water Operating Fund 6000.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Finance and Management to enter into lease agreements or amendments, as applicable, with the following eight (8) entities or individuals for use of certain tracts of City-owned land for farming purposes: Radcliff Ventures, LLC; Adam Writsel; Richard Hempy; Timothy A. Barnes; Stephanie Lynn Taylor; D & D Peters LLC and Adam E. Peters; Mark Ruff; and Clifton Brothers, Inc. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus owns multiple tracts of land in Franklin, Pickaway, and Delaware Counties held for future expansion of the Department of Public Utilities treatment facilities and for protection and buffering of groundwater well fields; and
WHEREAS, certain tillable tracts of land are currently leased for farming purposes; and
WHEREAS, it is in the City’s best interest to lease the tillable acreage of land for farming purposes to reduce costs of property management and oversight, provide for good stewardship of the land, and generate income; and
WHEREAS, based on an extensive review of the farming operations and stewardship practices of the existing Tenants it has been determined that it is in the City’s best interest to extend the lease with the current Tenants to provide for an additional renewal term of five (5) years to ensure superior stewardship and to maximize the long-term productivity of the farmland; and
WHEREAS, the City’s current Lease Agreements for farming of tillable tracts of land at various City-owned locations will expire in November 30, 2024 necessitating the need for the City to enter into lease amendments with the existing Tenants in order to add a five-year renewal term and to make other necessary lease modifications; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of Finance and Management to execute those documents necessary to enter into eight (8) Lease Amendments for use of City-owned tillable land for farming purposes; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Finance and Management, on the behalf of the Department of Public Utilities, be and is hereby authorized to execute those documents, as prepared and approved by the Department of Law, Real Estate Division, to enter into eight (8) farm lease amendments to add a five-year renewal term commencing on December 1, 2024, establish the rental rate for the renewal term, and to modify other corresponding terms as may be necessary. The eight (8) lease amendments will modify the leases with the following parties (exact name of leasing entity may vary) and at the locations as follows:
1. Radcliff Ventures, LLC, 5414 and 5600 Parsons Road, Franklin County, 337.29 total acres, 136.39 tillable acres
2. Adam Writsel, to be successor in interest to Jeffrey L. Writsel, Southerly Wastewater Plant, Franklin County, 593.94 total acres, 208.5 tillable acres
3. Richard Hempy, State Route 257, Delaware County, 167.6 total acres, 164 tillable acres
4. Timothy A. Barnes, Taway Road, Delaware County, 792.45 total acres, 669 tillable acres
5. Stephanie Lynn Taylor (previously Zachary Lincoln Taylor and Lowell T. Taylor), Mooney Road, Delaware County, 90.97 total acres, 88 tillable acres
6. D & D Peters LLC & Adam E. Peters, South High Street at Weigand, Pickaway County, 417.82 total acres, 316 tillable acres
7. Mark Ruff, 2074 Weigand Road, Pickaway County, 25 total acres, 20 tillable acres
8. Clifton Brothers, Inc., State Route 104, Pickaway County, 103.27 total acres, 79 tillable acres
SECTION 2. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.