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Putnam County assumes lease for Harvey's Creek tower, approves related communications purchases
Summary
The Putnam County Commission voted to take over a dormant tower lease on Harvey's Creek, signed an annual site lease with the landowners and approved related procurement intended to improve 9-1-1 and county radio coverage in the southern part of the county.
The Putnam County Commission voted to assume the lease for a communications tower on Harvey's Creek and approved a site lease and related procurement intended to improve emergency and radio coverage in the southern part of the county.
County staff told commissioners the tower, previously leased by American Messaging Services LLC and unused for about five years, will be transferred to the commission through an assignment-and-assumption of lease. Commissioners also approved a site lease with property owners Brianna Epling and Nancy Epling for an annual payment of $3,600 and authorized county officials to sign the documents in duplicate.
The move is aimed at improving coverage near Hamlin and other southern areas where county 9-1-1 reception has been weak. Larry (staff member) said the tower is about 180 feet tall and reported it is "structurally sound," and he told commissioners that 9-1-1 director Michael White plans to have fiber installed at the site and expects other carriers may attach to the tower.
The commission also approved purchases tied to communications work: a 50% deposit of $185,252 to Allstate Tower (to Kale Tower) and a $9,875.87 payment to electronic services for radio equipment, both drawn from the fund identified in the meeting. Commissioners were told these procurements are part of the larger effort to expand county communications capability.
Action on the lease and the site agreement was taken by motion and second and carried with all members voting in favor. County staff presented a signed check for the $3,600 annual payment to the Epling family at the meeting.
Commissioners and staff described the steps as administrative approvals required to assume the lease and to begin physical upgrades; no zoning or land-use variance or litigation was raised at the meeting. Michael White was not present; commissioners offered congratulations to him on an announced family event and said he had reviewed the site and provided recommendations.
The commission president was authorized to sign all necessary documents related to the lease assumption and the site agreement. County staff said they will proceed with installing fiber and coordinating any additional carrier attachments, and will follow procurement and contracting procedures for the remaining work.
