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Fairgrounds brings American Tower lease extension offer; commissioners schedule more review
Summary
Fairgrounds director presented American Tower’s offer to either extend the lease with seven additional five‑year options or accept a shorter buy‑out; commissioners asked for more time and agreed to place the item on the next regular meeting agenda.
Fairgrounds Director Kimber Solberg brought an offer from American Tower concerning the county’s cell tower lease at the fairgrounds and asked the commissioners to consider whether to accept a buyout or to extend the lease.
Solberg said the fairboard requested the county commission, as the leaseholder, review the company’s proposal which includes two general approaches: continue the lease with additional renewal options and modest revenue-share changes, or accept an up‑front buyout. Cameron (county staff) summarized the options and amounts: the current lease pays about $1,312 per month; extending the lease through the full potential expiration date would amount to roughly $600,000 in payments spread over 35 years (seven additional five‑year renewals). A buyout option would pay about $237,000 spread over 10 years, which would stop periodic payments after that term.
Solberg said American Tower also asked for an additional 625 square feet of site area and proposed a $150 monthly revenue share tied to that expansion. The letter had a March 5 deadline; commissioners agreed the deadline appeared flexible but asked for more time to analyze financial trade-offs. The board directed staff to place the matter on the next regular meeting agenda and suggested involving the county treasurer to model the annuity versus lump‑sum comparisons.
Ending: The commission did not take action at this meeting and will consider the American Tower proposal at the next regular meeting after staff and the treasurer provide financial analysis.
