Board approves Facilities Use Agreement

Jackson County, Fla. - Jackson County Administrator Jim Dean came before the Board seeking approval of a renewed facilities use agreement with the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce. Dean explained that the document mirrors the agreement previously in place, noting, “This is the same agreement that they used in the past. It is for five years and it's for the same amount of rent. We're asking for board approval to enter into the agreement with the chamber.”

Before moving forward, commissioners raised a key question about continued access to the Russ House, particularly for local youth programs that have relied on the building for years. Chairman Jamey Westbrook underscored how important that access has been for the community and emphasized the Board’s desire to see those activities remain uninterrupted.

County staff clarified that because the Russ House is a county-owned facility, the youth groups that have historically used the space will still be able to do so under the new agreement. Nothing in the renewal alters those longstanding arrangements.

With those assurances on the record, the Board moved to approve the five-year renewal, covering March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2031, at the unchanged rate of $400 per month. The motion carried without opposition.