Ferrysburg ready to move forward on lease with county
Tue, May 20, 2008 
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BY CHRIS EPPLETT
cepplett@grandhaventribune.com
FERRYSBURG — Both sides have tentatively agreed to lease terms for an Ottawa County organization to begin operations in the former Ferrysburg Elementary School.
The city has been negotiating a five-year lease with Ottawa County Community Mental Health that would open a Community Based Services office in the former elementary school, 17290 Roosevelt Road.
The county has already approved the lease. During the City Council meeting Monday night, members decided to move forward with the lease and scheduled a public hearing at the June 16 meeting, when it plans to approve the lease.
Community Mental Health provides public services for people with developmental disabilities or serious mental illnesses. Providing the lease is approved, CMH would open its Community Based Services office in Ferrysburg on July 17.
Community Mental Health previously housed a similar office in Grand Haven's Centertown district.
The lease would generate $54,000 annually in revenue for the city. The eastern wing of the school — approximately 10,000 square feet of the 30,000-square-foot building — would be utilized in the lease agreement. CMH would also pay a portion of the building's utilities, approximated by space being used by the organization.
"I think this is a great step for the city of Ferrysburg," Councilman Tom Spoelman said. "I want to commend (City Manager) Craig (Bessinger) on his endeavor in making this contract go forward."
Lease terms include a 90-day termination clause for the county and six-month termination for the city.
The city plans to lease additional space in the building by continuing agreements with Walden Green Montessori School and True Life Community Church, which generate an additional $4,500 per month.
Council has taken no action on a $1 million offer from West Michigan Academy of Arts & Academics to purchase the property. The purchase agreement remains on the table with a requested — not required — response by May 7, Bessinger said.
In the meantime, City Council will continue working with two development companies on long-term plans for the building and surrounding land, which the city purchased from Grand Haven Area Public Schools for $950,000 in June 2006.
