ORANGE PARK – Town officials discussed amending the Orange Park Town Hall lease at its board meeting Tuesday.

Town estimates said the entity could earn more than $30,000 a year by renting a 1,500-square-foot portion of Orange Park Town Hall. Two prospective tenants approached the town, the Clay County Chamber of Commerce and First Federal Bank.

The chamber was told to vacate its Fleming Island-based office and they mentioned an 18-month term. According to town documents, the bank was seeking a seven-month lease for an administration office, rather than banking on-site, to establish a foothold in the area.

Town Manager Sarah Campbell said space was vacated by town staff last year. She provided council members with two draft lease agreements and said the staff was flexible.

Council Member Susana Thompson said it would be beneficial for another government entity to share the space. Mayor Randy Anderson said the town can be more involved with the chamber if it’s in-house. He also asked if $2,800 a month in rent was the market rate for a commercial renter.

“I think that’s a plus for us to have it here for our businesses,” Anderson said.

Council Member Alan Watt said the chamber, which has some government-type responsibilities, is the best the town can do with the space.

“I think it’s a better deal for all aspects,” Watt added.

Town Attorney Sam Garrison said a final contract had to be brought before the council later, and council members gave staff direction to open negotiations with the chamber.

In other business, council members unanimously approved having alcohol sales times from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day. Vice-Mayor Eddie Henley said he preferred no alcohol sales on Sunday due to it being the Sabbath, but understood the move the town was making. Anderson said the town is now in line with the county and Hauber said the town could see more revenue due to the change.

Watt said several neighboring counties have similar periods of alcohol sales.

“This is supporting our businesses,” Watt said. “... It brings us in line with all the surrounding counties and the state and supports our businesses so people don’t drive across the (county) line to get something so they can go to the beach on a Sunday morning. I think it’s a good thing all around.”

The town then turned to the state’s Voluntary Home Buyout Grant program, where council members authorized the offer for three lots on the 600 block of Settlers Court for $394,000, which is reimbursable from the state. The program is used to buy homes, damaged by Hurricane Irma, on a floodplain to turn them into open space.