County, city continue arena lease negotiations

Negotiations remain ongoing between the city of Graham and Young County on a new lease agreement for the Young County Arena. Graham Mayor Neal Blanton, Graham Economic Development Director Grant Ingram and Graham Economic Improvement Corporation President Jack Graham spoke with county commissioners Monday, Nov. 28 on a new lease proposal.

An agreement over the ownership and operation of the arena has been a topic of discussion since Blanton and Graham formally requested a deed transfer from the county Dec. 22, 2021. Since 2004, the county has maintained ownership of the arena property, while the city has operated and paid most of the operating expenses.

“Commissioners should all have a copy of the agreement that was put together by our city attorney,” Blanton said. “In detail, basically what we had discussed in our previous meeting, which was the sharing of all expenses, both capital and (operations and maintenance), 50-50, on the arena, the reconstitution of the board into a seven-member board with three members picked by the county (and) three members picked by the city and the one mutual that was agreed upon by both the county and the city and the county would continue to maintain ownership of the property.”

The Young County Arena Board members will each serve in three-year terms, which begin Nov. 1 of each year.

For the full story, see the Saturday, Dec. 3 edition of The Graham Leader.