By LISA MACNEIL
With some reservation, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) unanimously approved a lease agreement with Paul Kent, manager of the Tampa Bay Extreme Adventure Course for Property Located at 6440 Cedar Lane during the May 12, 2020 regular meeting.
Beginning in October and November of 2019, Kent’s company formulated a license agreement with the county to use the land at 6440 Cedar Lane, which was formerly home to the TreeUmph! Adventure course. However, the board did not approve the terms of the agreement at that time, and Kent was granted a six month extension to revise the agreement, following the recommendations and suggestions by the board.
Economic Development Director Valerie Pianta presented the agreement to the board, as Kent could not be present due to current travel restrictions in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pianta presented the agreement as: $12,000 for the first year then two years at $24,000, year four at $36,000 and then $48,000. The company will then pay $300,000 to complete the sale of the property.
60% of the lease price will be applied to the final payment.
Commissioner Steve Champion’s original reservations were not swayed. “What business gets that kind of leeway? I’m okay with having a price to sell it to them, but applying 60% of payments to already really low payments. I have a problem with that.”
Commissioner Jeff Holcomb doesn’t think the agreement is ideal, but added, “I think that the other company (TreeUmph!) laid out too much capital and didn’t get enough business. It is what it is. It’s not the best but, I’d like to see it get it going.”
The other commissioners expressed their concerns as well, but all were in agreement that the resulting tax revenue would be better than nothing.
The Tampa Bay Extreme Adventure Course is currently open by appointment only. To find them online search for FLG X Adventure Course – Tampa.
