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Committee forwards $45,000 ETSB tower-and-land offer to full county board for approval
Summary
The LaSalle County Finance Committee voted to forward to the full county board a proposal for the county to accept a 7-acre radio tower site, building and generator from the Emergency Telephone System Board (ETSB) for $45,000; ETSB would pay the purchase and upkeep while the county would hold title because ETSB cannot own property.
The LaSalle County Finance Committee voted on March 4 to forward to the full county board a proposal for the county to accept ownership of a 7-acre radio-tower site, building and generator offered by the county’s Emergency Telephone System Board (ETSB) for $45,000.
Sheriff representatives told the committee the vendor that previously owned the tower is divesting its sites and that the ETSB can acquire the property and equipment for an up-front payment. "It's 7 acres of property, tower, building, generator, everything sitting on already for $45,000. It's a phenomenal deal," the sheriff said. Committee members and staff said a new tower in the Serene/Lake Holiday area could substantially improve radio coverage in portions of the county.
Diane (ETSB staff) explained the proposed agreement: the county would accept title and enter a long-term (typical practice cited as 99 years) contract with the ETSB that requires the ETSB to pay the purchase price up front and to be responsible for maintenance and operating costs going forward. "The emergency telephone system board be responsible for the upkeep of it, any maintenance of it, any cost going forward. No burden at all on the county board at all," Diane said. Committee members said ETSB is not permitted to hold title, so the county would be a pass-through owner with ETSB funding operations.
The committee approved a motion to forward the proposal to the full county board for final action. The committee record indicates a motion was made and seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
Ending: Staff members said they have valuation information and that a new tower built from scratch would cost an estimated $750,000 to $1 million; the committee forwarded the ETSB offer to the full board so the county can determine whether to accept title under the terms described.
