LaSalle County committee reviews purchase of Serena radio tower to improve north-county coverage

LaSalle County officials discussed a proposal to purchase a seven‑acre radio tower site in Serena that county and public‑safety staff say would substantially improve radio coverage in the county's northeast corner.

The discussion centered on a proposal from Diana Stiles, the county's Emergency Telephone System Board (ETSB) director, who said the current radio contractor, ClearTalk, was sold and the buyer is not interested in owning towers. Stiles said the Serena site includes a large guide‑wire tower, a building with generator/electrical/HVAC and roughly seven acres of land. She said the county or ETSB could acquire it at far below the estimated cost of building a new tower.

Officials said the purchase price range being discussed is roughly $40,000–$50,000 for towers of this type; Stiles said she had made a low offer of $30,000 to start talks. Vendors told committee members the tower itself likely needs only cleanup and modest repairs — examples cited included sealing the roof, cleaning insulation chewed by rodents, and addressing a tower lighting issue — and estimated the inspection/repair work at approximately $10,000. By contrast, Stiles said building a new tower from scratch could cost between about $350,000 and up to roughly $750,000–$1,000,000 depending on scope. She said a vendor also estimated that renting antenna space could generate ongoing revenue (she cited an example from another county where a tower brings in $3,000/month).

Stiles outlined ownership options required by Illinois statute and ETSB rules: the ETSB can own radio equipment and towers but not land or buildings, so the county would need to purchase land if the ETSB is to own the tower equipment. Stiles said the ETSB would fund the acquisition and that 9‑1‑1 funds would be used, so county general funds would not be tapped. She said the ETSB would reimburse the county for land costs through a lease and then hold a long‑term token lease (for example, $1 per year) to formalize ETSB control of the tower equipment while the county retained title to the real estate if that is the chosen structure.

Committee members asked whether the purchase would close the county's coverage gaps. Stiles and vendors answered that the site would not eliminate all dead spots countywide but would substantially improve coverage in the Serena/Lake Holiday/Northeast area. They also discussed alternative long‑term strategies such as joining Starcom (a statewide public‑safety radio network), which vendors estimated would require multiple new towers and multimillion‑dollar investment. Several committee members said acquiring the Serena tower would be a relatively low‑cost way to improve coverage now while longer‑term solutions are evaluated.

Committee members discussed next steps: completing vendor inspections, confirming the tower age and environmental status, drafting leases and property purchase documents, and bringing the proposal to County Property and Finance committees for approval. Stiles said she had been in discussion with the tower owner and believed he was not actively marketing the single site, but she recommended not waiting because the owner could accept another offer.

If the county or ETSB proceeds, staff said they would require a formal lease that places responsibility for maintenance, tower equipment, and any third‑party tenants with the radio vendor and would reserve the county/ETSB’s right to remove lessees if necessary. Stiles said the ETSB would cover acquisition and maintenance costs through 9‑1‑1 funds, and that outside antenna leases could offset long‑term upkeep.

The committee did not take a final vote on purchase at this meeting but instructed staff to move forward with inspections, lease drafting and preliminary property/finance committee review.