Council approves lease transfer for cell tower and $18.09M supplemental appropriation for MRF financing

Grand Junction — At its Dec. 3 meeting the City Council unanimously approved an ordinance authorizing a lease transfer for communications equipment at 2057 South Broadway and adopted a supplemental appropriation ordinance that includes a major short‑term payment for the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF).

Staff attorney explained the lease ordinance (No. 5287) would authorize transfer of an existing cell‑site lease at the TieraDo Golf Course property to a new entity as part of industry consolidation. Counsel noted the existing lease remains in effect and the city’s charter limits leases to a maximum of 25 years; the proposed transfer to the new tenant could include a fresh 25‑year term if the tenant accepts it. Council approved the ordinance on final passage by a 6–0 vote.

On the budget item, CFO Jay Valentine summarized ordinance No. 5288 for supplemental appropriations. The major item is a $18,091,000 appropriation in the Solid Waste Fund to authorize payment of a short‑term note from A & B Bank for the MRF, to be financed with proceeds from a recent debt issuance. Additional appropriations include $73,919 in the General Fund (split into $52,933 for Liberty Apartments project and $20,986 for counseling/education center TCP fees and engineering inspection) and $1,697,529 from ARPA to the sales tax capital improvement fund for Salt Flats housing initiative budgets. Council adopted the supplemental appropriations on final passage by a 6–0 vote.

Council members asked no substantive questions after the presentations and staff indicated the figures were based on recent financing actions and council direction provided at prior workshops.

Sources: staff attorney presentation, CFO Jay Valentine; Council roll calls on Dec. 3.