LISA HOBBS - News Editor
J’s Restaurant has paid its dumpster fees, monies that have been the center of a recent controversy at Three Star Mall.
J.C. Petit Jr., informed Warren County Way that he paid $1,936, the amount requested by Warren County Government, this morning to its Finance Department Director Justin Cotten.
“He asked if it included September’s fees,” stated Petit. “No, I did include August’s. They are meeting tonight. Maybe finalize my lease agreement, which is supposed to include the dumpster fees moving forward.”
They, who are Building and Grounds Committee members, are meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 8, at 4:30 p.m. Among the items on the agenda, “update on restaurant lease.”
During August’s meeting, members voted to lock the compactor on Sept. 1 for non-payment. They did that. They also voted to reconvene and consider terminating the restaurant’s lease for nonpayment.
The current lease agreement was in place before the county purchased the building. While it outlines how the restaurant should handle its garbage, it also states, “If landlord shall provide or designate a service for disposing or picking up refuse and garbage, then tenant shall use same.”
In past statements, Petit said he used the dumpster because it was provided by the landlord, but his lease doesn’t require him to pay for it. He added that when a new lease is signed and includes dumpster fees, he will pay. That stance changed on the advice of his attorney, who informed Petit that a clause existed in that same contract and it allows the county to arbitrarily increase his rent.
“I don’t even have a promise from them that they will renew my lease,” stated Petit. “I guess we will see what they do tonight.”