The Century Council was approached Monday night by West Florida Gin to purchase the old helicopter technology building in the Century Industrial Park to be used to store cotton, although no decision was made.
Robert Godwin and Larry Baxley with West Florida Gin in Walnut Hill, Fla., want to purchase the building for $240,000 at $4,000 a month for five years. Councilwoman Ann Brooks pointed out that the building was appraised to be worth $550,000 several years ago or $6,667 a month for rental. Godwin said he has paid less for several local buildings that sat empty and that no one wants big buildings because of the expense of updating or utilities. West Florida Gin is using several local buildings to store cotton currently.
“We are hoping there is some way we can come to lease purchase agreement whereby we can lease it from you all and at some point, take ownership,” said Godwin. “That's where we are headed, basically.”
Baxley said he's bought buildings in six different towns, that almost all of them had been empty for years.
“We turned them into money-making something, some of them, not a lot of money,” said Baxley. “But they all went to some good use. I think we've found something we can do with that one. Not employ as many people as I'd like. The building in Jay stayed empty most of its life, I got a manufacturer in there a few years ago.”
Baxley said they will probably use half the building, and will hope to eventually put something in the other half to employ more people.
Godwin said his interest comes from needing a place to store cotton, since they have outgrown their place in Walnut Hill.
Brooks asked if their activity would create any jobs and Godwin said not that many, he will be using his own warehouse people to man the cotton storage and that there will be someone there all the time. He said April to September would be extremely busy, when cotton is sold and with hundreds of bales a day being moved out of the warehouse.
The sprinkler system needs some updating, and the inside construction lumber will have to be removed, which would cost about $10,000 according to Godwin. Godwin said that it would probably generate money from the traffic of truck drivers, potential cotton buyers and inspectors who will need fuel and food nearby.
Repairs would be done by the business if the town agrees to the price they have suggested.
“It's all part of the negotiation,” said Godwin. “If you bump it up to a higher number, I wont be able to do any repair. At this number I can do some work. It's a balancing game.”
The town of Century would keep insurance on the building, but the Gin would insure the contents under a lease to purchase agreement.
Councilman Ben Boutwell said the council will need to ask the Town Attorney Matt Dannheiser to write up a contract and council members agreed.
“One thing for sure, the longer the building sits there, there more waste away it goes,” said Godwin.
When Councilman Luis Gomez asked about a tentative timeline for an answer, Godwin said he would have to know something by Sept.1, but would like to have an answer before then. Godwin said there is another building available, but the one in Century is much more appealing, and it looks like there will be a lot more cotton to be planted than anticipated.
“I don't want to wait too long on you all to make a decision,” said Godwin. “There are a couple of warehouses that I do have in mind that I could use, out of town, of course, but the longer I wait, the more out I become to lose out on those. Doesn't have to be a snap decision.”
“It's been sitting for how many years, a decade?,” said Councilman Ben Boutwell. “In Ben's opinion, I think it's a good thing.”
Councilman James Smith said he wished it would help employ locals, which could happen in the future.
“Any revenue coming off that property I think is a plus for Century, rather than just sitting there, going down,” said Gomez.
Brooks said the council would talk to their attorney and let Baxley and Godwin know something soon.
The council also approved:
-Town Planner Debbie Nickels applying for $30,000 Community Planning Technical Assistant Grant 2019/2020 to update Century's Land Development Code
-$30,000 SEARCH Grant for water and wastewater treatment feasibility study that needs a bank account for when the project is complete, so the engineer will get paid
-Mayor's request to hire Brianna Waldrop for window clerk at $9.25 an hour to be trained by Toni Simmons to replace Jolene Tipton
