EMS to inhabit former Alleghany Chevrolet location

Alleghany Emergency Medical Services will be housed in the former location of Alleghany Chevrolet, according to a lease agreement accepted April 8 by the Alleghany County Commission. As part of the deal, the county and the owners reserved the option to terminate the lease at any time with a 60-day notice.

Commission Steve Roten did not attend the morning meeting, which was a continuation of a meeting recessed on April 6.

The move was made necessary after a fire caused by an electrical short heavily damaged the EMS building on Cox Street the evening of April 3.

The lease, with a monthly rental payment of $4,000, was made between the county and property owners Brad Bedsaul and wife Noelle.

Should the lease become void through an option to terminate, the county would have 60 days to vacate the premises. On the same token in the case of damage to or destruction of the property, County Manager Don Adams pointed out, "I just matched that up to the option to terminate because that's what that is…It's an option to terminate if you don't get damage repaired."

A portion of the revised document addressing damage and destruction read, "If the leased premises or any part thereof or any appurtenance thereto is so damaged by fire, casualty or structural defects that cannot be used for (the) tenant's purposes, then (the) tenant shall have the right within 60 days following damage to elect by notice to (the) landlord to terminate this lease as of the date of such damage…"

During the meeting, Adams explained if the commissioners were to approve the lease, officials would go to the former car dealership and select which pieces of office furniture they would like.