The Wood County Commission is ready to re-negotiate a 20-year tower lease agreement with American Tower that is now coming to an end, reported the Parkersburg News and Sentinel.
According to County Prosecutor Pat Lefebure, ”It has not been a money maker for either side at this point. It is known these days that towers can generate money.”
American Tower is looking to get a new lease in place, with the existing terms, except for a five-six-year option. Additionally, the company wants to make a one-time payment of $20,000 to the county to cover all options for the life of the lease, said Lefebure. The county owns the land the tower sits on and American Tower owns the infrastructure itself. The county also has 10 years left on the co-location of their emergency 911 equipment.
Of the proposed one-time fee, Lefebure commented, “From looking at it, we think that might be a little low considering some of the private individuals who receive money for these towers that are placed on their land.” Officials said the typical rate for communication towers on someone’s property was around $1,000 a month, reported the Parkersburg News and Sentinel.
As for next steps, Lefebure will work on the deal for the county to determine what is agreeable to American Tower.
April 12, 2018
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