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Resident pitches Paxton cell tower site; county says private negotiations will proceed before formal request
Summary
A Paxton resident proposed hosting a communications tower on his hill to expand radio/cell coverage; commissioners said site and lease terms are a private agreement between the landowner and tower company, and the county will review any formal proposal when submitted.
Calvin Shultz told commissioners he has been approached by Action Communications and American Tower and has been exploring options to site a telecommunications tower on his hill near Paxton. Shultz said the hill is the highest point in eastern Keith County and would provide broader coverage than existing towers.
Shultz described offers he had received for rent and easement payments and said the tower owner would be responsible for infrastructure costs; he noted differences between companies'offers and said his property already has access infrastructure but that fiber and utility hookups remain to be priced. "Action Communications offered you $850 a month to build and maintain a tower," he said during the public forum, and he described American Tower as previously quoting higher rental expectations for antenna placement.
Commissioners responded that siting and lease negotiations are between the landowner and the tower company; the county's role would be reviewing formal applications, easements or permits if and when they are submitted. One commissioner suggested landowner agreements include clauses that share future antenna-rental revenue increases with the landowner. No county action or commitment of public funds was taken.
