Well, that all worked out. It appeared that the Santa Clara
County Board of Supervisors would vote, in the name of revenue, to
evict the Lions Club from the San Martin Lions Club and Community
Hall at the San Martin Airport, which it has happily occupied and
taken care of for 27 years.
Well, that all worked out.
It appeared that the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors would vote, in the name of revenue, to evict the Lions Club from the San Martin Lions Club and Community Hall at the San Martin Airport, which it has happily occupied and taken care of for 27 years.
A new suitor with deeper pockets, the Gavilan College Aviation Program, was reportedly poised to take over the building and pay beaucoup more dollars to turn it into a workshop for the 10 or so aviation students. There are big plans, of course, to expand the program.
Even if it made financial sense – and it did because the Lions Club’s favorable lease is only $100 on a month-to-month basis – kicking the civic-minded group out left a sour taste in the mouth.
The building has indeed become the de facto community center for San Martin.
Perhaps now that Gavilan has said it prefers to move its own portables onto the site, Supervisor Don Gage can work on getting a less tenuous lease – the county currently can move the Lions out with a 30-day notice – worked out with the organization. The Lions can afford to pay a little more and they deserve more security to stay comfortable in the building and 5-acre parcel.
The Supervisors wisely delayed making a final decision which gave the club and the county a chance to mull the future over.
It’s not just that the sweet rent deal allows the Lions to pour tens of thousands of dollars back into the community. It’s that the building is also the town center where CalFire, the San Martin Neighborhood Alliance, and nonprofit groups meet for a low cost.
It’s also where political candidates come to speak and debate issues.
That’s not something to be set aside without consideration, even when financial times for county government are difficult.
Every year, the Lions Club donates about $100,000 into San Martin, Morgan Hill and Gilroy organizations thanks entirely to its Wednesday night bingo game that attracts about 180 people. In the past two years the Lions Club donated $25,000 to San Martin/Gwinn School, including $10,000 for a new marquee, $4,000 for backpacks and supplies for needy children, $7,000 for new fencing and $2,000 to the library, said Lions member Alan Black. They have also donated thousands to Rebekah’s Children’s Services in Gilroy that helps neglected children.
At this point, it’s a case of all’s well that ends well. Though now that the crisis debate is ended, it make sense to put together a deal that makes the county a chunk more change, gives the Lions Club a sense of long-term stability and shows the residents of San Martin that, indeed, the community center is important to keep.
Supervisor Gage’s tenure is over this coming fall. Working out new lease details before he leaves office and is replaced by someone who might not know or care that San Martin exists would be a worthy addition to his accomplishment list.
