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Council approves Verizon and T‑Mobile leases, adding coverage and backup power to city towers
Summary
The Port Washington Common Council approved a new Verizon colocation lease on the city police tower and an amendment to a T‑Mobile site agreement to allow a generator, decisions aimed at improving cell coverage and reliability downtown and across the city.
The Port Washington Common Council approved two cellular infrastructure items on Oct. 7: a new lease allowing Verizon Wireless to colocate antennas on the police tower on Wisconsin Street, and a contract amendment allowing T‑Mobile to add a backup generator at the West Water Tower site.
City staff described the Verizon lease as a five‑year agreement with four automatic five‑year renewals, an initial annual payment of $33,600 and a 2.5% annual escalator. Staff said Verizon does not currently have antennas on the hilltop tower and that the proposed installation is aimed at improving downtown coverage. Roger (city staff) said structural engineering calculations had been reviewed and found acceptable.
On the T‑Mobile item the council approved a second amendment authorizing a generator on the West Water Tower site. Staff said the provider agreed to pay an additional $285 per month and to screen the generator; the company will also pave a gravel access drive as part of the amendment. Both votes passed on voice votes with motions carried by the council.
Why it matters: Council members emphasized neighborhood interest in better cell service downtown and public‑safety and emergency communications benefits from more robust wireless coverage. The T‑Mobile generator is intended to preserve cellular service during local power interruptions.
The council noted that revenue from tower leases is directed to the water utility in the case of the West Water Tower amendment and to the general fund for the police tower colocation.
