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Curry County reduces tower fees for public entities to aid fire communications; amendment passes 2–0
Summary
The board approved an amendment reducing county tower-management fees for public entities by 60% to help maintain emergency communications for fire and first-response agencies; the vote was 2–0.
The Curry County Board of Commissioners on March 5 approved an amendment to the county’s tower-fee schedule that reduces charges for public entities by 60% to help support communications used by fire and emergency-response agencies. The motion passed 2–0.
Background: County staff said the county contracts with a third party, DayWireless, to manage towers and that a recent incident and historical upkeep issues prompted a review of the fee structure. Commissioners described a complicated patchwork of users connected to county tower huts, inconsistent payments over time and equipment vulnerabilities (for example, missing or unused “ice shields” that leave equipment exposed in winter). One county official described work to identify users and “unwind” unmanaged attachments.
The amendment reduces the county’s published tower fee for public entities (including fire districts and similar responders) by 60%, retaining a reduced management fee so the county can help cover maintenance and equipment needs. Commissioners said the goal is to secure reliable communications for volunteers and paid responders while pursuing grant funding and system upgrades.
Why it matters: County towers support volunteer fire districts and other emergency communications across rural areas that lack alternative infrastructure. Commissioners described tight volunteer budgets, OSHA and equipment mandates, and the risk that departments could have to curtail operations without adequate funding or equipment.
Formal action: The board moved, seconded and approved the fee-schedule amendment; the vote was recorded as “Yes, and yes” (2–0). The board instructed staff to continue reviewing tower management, identify funding and pursue grant opportunities to improve equipment and resilience.
Ending: Commissioners described ongoing follow-up work to inventory users, pursue grants and modernize equipment; they flagged the issue as operationally important to public safety across the county’s volunteer fire districts.
