HICKMAN COUNTY — Commissioners authorized county staff to remove an obsolete tower on Horner's Down Road after officials said the structure no longer served EMS or rescue-squad communications and the landowner had raised the lease rate.

A commissioner said the tower now hosts only a weather station and that the landowner increased the annual lease from $2,000 toward $3,600. Public-works staff indicated they had funds available in the department budget and that the estimated demolition cost was roughly equal to two years of lease payments. "Mr. Tibbs can move it to another tower. The landowner where the tower is has gone up on the, yearly lease to $2,000 and wanted to go to $3,600 ' we have no use for the tower," a commissioner said.

Public-works staff member Pete Tibbs was present and the commission moved to authorize him to remove the tower using department funds; the motion passed by roll call. The presenter said the department would not need a budget amendment and that the department had approximately $4,000 available in its budget to cover the removal.

Commissioners recorded affirmative votes and noted two absences during the roll call.