Coffey County approves $3,000 purchase of 1 acre in Gridley for radio tower site

The Coffey County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 3 authorized the chairman to sign a land purchase agreement with Buyer Management Group LLP to buy 1 acre at 572 Emmer Road in Gridley for $3,000. The county will use funds from the capital improvement reserve fund for the purchase.

The land is planned as the site for one of three radio communication towers the county is building to upgrade local radio coverage. Amber Presley, Coffey County emergency management director, said the existing concrete pad and old tower on the parcel will be removed and a new pad and a freestanding tower will be installed inside a 75-by-75-foot fenced compound on the acquired acre.

“The agreement has language about the address,” Presley said after commissioners raised a question about ingress and egress; she added that the contract includes a perpetual easement for access to the site. Presley also told the board there had been an initial estimate of $10,000–$15,000 to remove the existing tower and that the county budgeted $15,000 for that work, though she said the cost should be lower because the contractor will already be on-site for other work.

Commissioners discussed whether the driveway serving the parcel would remain usable by neighboring property owners; Presley said access would remain the same and that the county was purchasing the land (not taking an easement). Commissioner McCurry moved to authorize the chairman to sign the agreement; Commissioner Peterson seconded. The motion passed by voice vote.

The purchase is scheduled to close on or before March 28, 2025, per the agreement timeline discussed at the meeting. Presley said county staff will take the signed documents to the title office to begin closing and that related lease agreements for two other tower sites are being finalized with partner cities.