OEDC OKs New County Lease

The Olney Economic Development Corporation approved a new lease agreement with Young County on July 8 that reflects the expansion of county offices into the former Olney Police Department building while opening additional space in the historic courthouse annex for future redevelopment.

The board unanimously approved increasing the county’s annual lease payment from $25,000 to $30,750 beginning with the 2026-27 fiscal year. The increase reflects both a 4 percent annual adjustment— which the corporation chose not to take last year—and the addition of 576 square feet for the county’s new vehicle registration office.

Executive Director Tom Parker said the revised lease equates to approximately $8.25 per square foot and has already been discussed with County Judge Win Graham and members of Commissioners Court as they prepare the county’s budget.

Under the agreement, Young County will con- tinue leasing space in the courthouse annex while adding the new tag office and climate-controlled records storage across the hall. Mr. Parker said the corporation remains responsible for the building’s structural integrity and major systems, while the county will continue handling day-to-day maintenance.

The revised lease also updates the legal descriptions and 911 addresses to reflect the new layout created by the tag office relocation.

Perhaps the most significant long-term change is what the county will no longer lease.

Mr. Parker said the upstairs ballroom area, which has historically been accessible to the county for record storage, will be removed from the lease now that records can be housed in conditioned storage on the first floor.