Council to vote on ownership of Railroad Depot
Aiken City Council will vote on a resolution to accept ownership of the newly constructed depot from the Friends of the Aiken Railroad Depot and Aiken Corp. on Monday evening.
According to the Memorandum of Understanding, the Friends will still maintain the dioramas and train exhibit. They will also continue to work with the city staff as an advisory group for the depot.
According to Aiken City Manager Roger LeDuc, the City will work on completing the covered deck, the baggage building and the dining cars and caboose located in Gyles Park - all which will be done as money becomes available in the City's budget.
LeDuc states in a memo that the prospective agreement between City Council and Friends is similar to the agreements they have with the Friends of Rye Patch and Hopelands Gardens, both which have been said to have been successful over the years.
Once the City gains ownership of the depot, they will be responsible in providing a staff for public events, maintaining the grounds, buildings and railroad cars, promoting the depot through its local City Channel 4 and establishing rates for the rental spaces the depot will offer.
Friends will conduct board meetings to discuss issues involving the depot and will pay fees for depot rental spaces unless it is an educational outreach program or a regularly scheduled Friends' meeting.
They will also assist in training individuals to guide groups through the depot.
The Railroad Depot, which will have its grand opening on Sept. 18, will be utilized as the City of Aiken Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department's headquarters and city visitor center.
The upper level of the depot is a museum that shares the history and impact of the railroads in Aiken County.
The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the council chambers and will be the only City Council meeting this month.
Contact Amy Banton at abanton@aikenstandard.com.