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Supervisors authorize staff to counteroffer Verizon lease terms for courthouse tower
Summary
Verizon proposed either a $140,000 lump‑sum perpetual easement or a new monthly rent of $1,075 with 10% increases every five years. County staff recommended a counteroffer (about $1,400/month); supervisors authorized staff to negotiate.
County staff presented a negotiated proposal from Verizon regarding the communications tower on county property at the courthouse. Verizon offered two options: (1) a one‑time lump sum payment of $140,000 in exchange for a perpetual easement, or (2) a new monthly rent of $1,075 beginning next month with 10% increases every five years and multiple renewal terms over 35 years.
Staff compared the proposal to the county’s current monthly payment (reported as about $1,641.82) and provided two models: an averaged counterproposal of about $1,378.41 per month and a practical suggested counteroffer rounded to $1,400 per month. Supervisors discussed uses of the tower fund (maintenance, equipment updates and a recent $100,000 transfer to EMA), noted the operational need to keep ongoing revenue for tower upkeep, and weighed the risk of a lump‑sum payment vs. a lengthy rent schedule.
Board direction: Supervisors supported staff negotiating a counteroffer on the monthly rent (staff indicated they would submit a $1,400/month counteroffer) and to review lease details (including remaining term and any early‑termination penalties) before executing any final agreement. Staff said they would update the board on negotiations.
Ending: Staff will deliver a counteroffer and return with recommended final language and financial analysis. No final lease amendment or vote was taken at the Nov. 12 meeting.
