Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
The Town of Farmington Dec. 19 accepted an offer for a lease-purchase of the former Methodist Church building in Farmington.
Cody Lord of Garfield, Farmington’s treasurer, will lease the building for $300 per year until Oct. 1, 2024, at which time he has the option to buy the building for $35,000.
Lord will be responsible for all expenses of the property, including taxes, insurance, utilities and any expenditures to improve the property.
Farmington Town Council first heard Lord’s proposal Oct. 17 and asked Mayor Dave Baker to allow the council to revisit the subject at their Nov. 21 meeting. Lack of quorum at that session delayed the matter until the December meeting.
Lord’s plan is to spend a year repairing the building and then offer it as an event rental space, at least through the length of the lease.
Lord, who also serves as clerk-treasurer at Garfield, first saw the inside of the building when he went there with George Martzall, public works employee, to check on the sump pump.
The building was donated to Farmington in 2009 on condition that it not be sold for 15 years. They are allowed to lease it or rent it. Because church members wanted to avoid the building becoming an eyesore, they stipulated that it could not be sold until at least 2024.
In dissolving the Farmington Methodist Church, the church organization gave the town a donation of $10,000, which was used to paint the building
Former Mayor Ron Dugan moved the church’s pulpit over to the town council chambers to be used by speakers.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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