Monterey Approves Parking Lot Lease

Monterey Aldermen approved a lease agreement Monday night that would allow FedEx to continue using the parking lot beside the depot as a transfer center.

Monterey Mayor Alex Garcia said the company has used the parking lot for the last six years. Aldermen Jamie Phillips and Vice Mayor Kevin Peters said they had concerns as there are gray areas in the contract on whether the town would still have rights to the parking lot if the city chooses to lease it. Garcia said approving the lease would not lock the city out.

“They know what our intentions are,” Garcia said. “We are going to clarify that and that’s why the attorney is looking at that, but yes that is going to be our parking lot still. I’ve already put bids out to see what it would cost to pave it and stripe it.”

The aldermen passed the motion to approve the lease with a 6-2 vote, pending attorney’s review. Fed Ex would pay $1,000 a month to use the parking lot.

Phillips said he was not for the lease approval as he wanted the language to be cleared up before voting.

“I would personally rather see a more clarified contract,” Phillips said. “I would rather hold off myself personally. Once we lock into it we are locked.”

Phillips said he has received calls from other trucking companies who currently use the lot. He said they are prepared to fight the town on exclusively leasing out the lot to FedEx. Garcia said the town will take action against those who unlawfully park there.

“The trucks that are already parking there will get cited and will get towed because we just put signs up saying no parking,” Garcia said. “It’s not their property.”

Garcia said he would voice the contract concerns to the attorney. in response to Phillips, Garcia said the final lease contract would take effect on November 1st.

In other business, Aldermen approved the 2025 fireworks contract. Aldermen donated $500 to Monterey High School’s Project Graduation night.