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Board opens public hearings and then tables decision on Verizon lease extensions for two county tower sites
Summary
Supervisors held brief public hearings on proposed five-year extensions to lease agreements for Verizon equipment at the Montrose (Mill Hill Middle School) and Nashtown tower sites and then voted to table the lease approvals for further review of pricing and separate hearings for each site.
The Westmoreland County Board opened public hearings on proposed fourth amendments to option and lease agreements that would extend Verizon’s leases at the Montrose (Mill Hill Middle School) and Nashtown tower sites for additional five-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2025. County counsel told the board the extensions are legally permissible but that encumbering public property requires a public hearing.
Emergency management staff explained Verizon requested the extensions and that extension terms include stepped increases in county revenue. The county attorney said he reviewed the document for legal sufficiency but did not negotiate price and recommended the board hold public hearings so the community could comment on price and terms. The chair opened the hearing; Frederick N. Howe III asked whether the county had fully evaluated the revenue potential from the leases.
After brief public comment, the board voted to table action on both leases to the next regular meeting, and directed the county attorney and interim county administrator to review pricing and, if appropriate, bring adjusted terms back to the board. Supervisors also asked that the item be split and that the board hold separate hearings for each tower site before any final approval.
What’s next: The board tabled the matter for one month, asked staff to review pricing and legal terms, and scheduled separate public hearings for the Montrose and Nashtown sites prior to final action.
