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Evansville panel approves Verizon rooftop license for Ford Center, citing $30,000 annual payment
Summary
The Evansville Redevelopment Commission voted to accept a license with Verizon to place wireless rooftop facilities at the Ford Center, a deal staff says will pay about $30,000 per year, is not exclusive and includes indemnification and an annual escalator.
The Evansville Redevelopment Commission voted Oct. 15 to accept a license agreement with Verizon Americas LLC dba Verizon Wireless to place wireless facilities on the roof of the Ford Center.
Unidentified Speaker 3, who described negotiating the arrangement with city counsel Sarah Dower, said the proposed agreement will pay the commission roughly $30,000 a year and includes indemnification for property damage. "They're gonna pay us $30,000 a year," Unidentified Speaker 3 said during discussion. Staff also told commissioners they were comfortable with how the facilities would be placed on the roof.
Commissioners asked whether the arrangement is exclusive and whether it would improve service for Verizon customers at the Ford Center. Unidentified Speaker 3 said it is not an exclusive agreement, adding that other equipment is currently on the roof and that the commission does not have absolute bargaining leverage because utilities can place equipment in the public right of way.
The agreement contains an annual escalator (staff said it appears to be 2% per year), and commissioners discussed prior income from legacy arrangements, one staffer saying the previous arrangement produced about $1,000 per month (roughly $12,000 annually).
Unidentified Speaker 4 moved to approve Resolution 24 ERC-33 to accept the license agreement, and the motion was seconded. A roll call recorded Commissioner Altsmith, Commissioner Neeson and Commissioner Waltham as voting "Aye," and the presiding speaker recorded an affirmative vote; the motion carried.
The commission did not finalize any renegotiation of preexisting small‑cell arrangements during the meeting but directed staff to note the possibility of future renegotiation if Verizon's presence becomes long term. The approval allows staff to execute the license consistent with the final contract language.
The commission moved on after the vote; no public comments were made on the Verizon item at the meeting.
