The City of Wayland and Christian Neighbors have worked out a lease agreement to enable the service to continue without added financial burden.

A special committee of the City Council and Bill Howe negotiated an agreement for the food pantry building so Christian Neighbors can make repairs and renovations.

Howe, president of the agency, told the council earlier this year the non-profit service uses the old house on Church Street, less than a block south of West Superior, but cannot under the rules make any changes to the inside without city approval. Christian Neighbors is looking for a way to improve the site and eventually buy the house.

It doesn’t pay the city any rent, but it takes care of utilities.

The agreement was amended to permit Christian Neighbors to use the second floor for excess storage. However, the agency must ask for city approval to make improvements and must provide receipts for costs.

Included in the renovation plans is narrowing the parking lot, which would make it more con-conforming.

Howe said he and the Christian Neighbors Board are worried that the city eventually might want to expand the parking lot adjacent to accommodate the fire department. City officials indicated that is not the case and they would not have a problem with allowing the improvements as long as they continue ownership.

Howe said Christian Neighbors has been providing its services here for 24 years. It distributed 19,000 pounds of food four years ago, but now provides more than 45,000 pounds annually, so the need is great.

Howe also indicated that Christian Neighbors received the gift of a water heater from Bradford White of Middleville to take care of that problem.