By Jackie Seabolt
Enterprise Record

COOLEEMEE – After lengthy discussion an early renewal of a lease between the town of Cooleemee and Cooleemee Historical Association did not pass at last month’s board meeting.
The issue was first addressed by Commissioner Chuck Taylor at the June meeting and involved Cooleemee Recreation Department being able to use an office in the Zachary House.
Currently, the Zachary House is leased by the town to Cooleemee Historical Society and houses their offices as well as the Textile Heritage Center Museum.
The historical society first entered into a lease agreement with the town in 1992 and opened the museum in 1993.
At the July 18 meeting Mayor Lynn Rumley was excused from the agenda item discussion due to her involvement with the historical society.
Commissioner Chris Branham served as mayor pro tem and opened the discussion by saying he had some concerns on the lease agreement.
“One thing comes to mind … the potential for CHA and the town to share the Zachary House as town hall.” Branham said a new lease would not allow that.
The Cooleemee Town Hall is located on NC 801 beside the ABC Store.
“Right now we rent for $3,600 a year,” Branham said. “We have town property there we could use in a central location.”
Commissioner Chuck Taylor said there would be space limitations in sharing the Zachary House …