12 - Accepting Donation of Land immediately adjacent to the Lamar County Historical Museum

Home Browse Search

Item No. 12 TO: Mayor, Mayor Pro -Tem & City Council Grayson Path, City Manager FROM: Stephanie H. Harris, City Attorney SUBJECT: Resolution accepting donation of land immediately adjacent to the Lamar County Historical Museum DATE: June 13, 2022 BACKGROUND: The city owns the building which houses the Lamar County Historical Museum and has long leased the premises to the Lamar County Historical Society for that purpose. The land and the building were donated to the City for that purpose many years ago. When the land was donated, however, it was only for the exact footprint of the building. In other words, the city doesn't own any of the land surrounding the building, including the walkway up to the front door, meaning the building is landlocked. Whatever the purpose behind that limited donation, it has caused significant problems between the LCHS and the owners of Heritage Hall. In 2010, the city and the then -owner of Heritage Hall entered into a mutual access easement whereby they share the parking lot and there was access to the Museum building. Nonetheless, disputes continued to arise. STATUS OF ISSUE: Recently, in a three party transaction, a donor has bought property adjacent to Heritage Hall and given it to JoKyle Varner, the owner of Heritage Hall, in exchange for which Mr. Varner is donating certain property around the periphery of the Museum building to the city to provide additional access to the building and to allow a bathroom and the wooden "shop" building to remain adjacent to the building. Hopefully, this will put to rest once and for all the disputes between Heritage Hall and the LCHS regarding this area. BUDGET: N/A RECOMMENDATION: Approve a resolution accepting and approving the Special Warranty Deed granting to the city property adjacent to the Lamar County Historical Society Museum building.