By NICOLE CARTRETTE
Staff Writer

The Columbus County Farmers Market no longer wants to lease the land the facility sits off Government Complex Road.

They want to own the 2.56-acre tract the organization leases from Columbus County for $5 per year.

The Board of Commissioners is expected to take up the matter at the Tuesday, Sept. 4 board meeting.

In an Aug. 3 letter addressed to Chairman Sammie Jacobs, president of the market Irvin W. Brown explains the market anticipates building a $265,000 value-added processing center of approximately 2,400 square feet and hiring a full-time marketing manager.

The market currently is housed in a 60 by 120-foot open-air shelter built in 2005. The 20-vendor space facility, with restrooms and concrete floor, was funded with a $125,000 grant from the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission.

The seven-year lease, with a three-year renewal period, dates back to April 2003 but has a total lease life of only 10 years.

“The lease stipulates that the property and all improvements thereon shall revert back to the County at the expiration of the lease,” Brown explains. “While we are extremely appreciative of Columbus County’s generosity in leasing us the 2.56 acres we currently occupy, we need a more permanent arrangement in order to achieve our long term goals.”

He suggests that a provision could be included in the deed that would require ownership to revert to the county in the event it is no longer used for a community farmers market.

The farmers market was established in 1998 in a downtown parking lot in Whiteville but in 2001 moved to its new location and was incorporated.

According to policies revised in 2006, sellers pay a $75 annual membership fee or non-members may rent space at a rate of $5 per day.

Sellers may reside in Columbus County, adjoining counties or be allowed to join by approval of the market’s board of directors.

Members of the board of directors include Irvin W. Brown, president; L. H. Shuman, vice president; Shirley Brown, secretary/treasurer; Al Daniel, Myra T. Godwin, Larry Nobles, Johnny Reynolds and Carol Shuman, according to the market’s website at columbuscountyfarmersmarket.com.