Committee backs $125,000 counteroffer for proposed cell tower on county sheriff property

The Facilities, Capital & Strategic Planning Committee voted Wednesday to recommend a $125,000 counteroffer to TeleCAD Wireless for a proposed cell tower lease on Alpena County Sheriff Department property in Wilson Township. Commissioners supported the counteroffer in a roll-call vote and instructed staff to pursue the lease recommendation with the Board.

County Administrator Jesse Osmer told the committee TeleCAD — a contractor that works on behalf of Verizon — initially offered "$75,000 to $80,000" and sought "a 75-year lease," and that the county could site the tower on a small (roughly 50-by-50-foot) patch of land either behind the jail or near the pole barn on the M-32 grounds. Osmer said the lump-sum revenue would be used to buy replacement radios the Sheriff’s Office needs when current equipment reaches end of life.

The committee discussed the revenue, lease term and location and agreed to counter at $125,000. Commissioner Brenda Foumier moved the recommendation and Commissioner John Kozlowski supported it. A roll-call vote recorded ayes from Commissioners Foumier, Todd Britton, Kozlowski and Chair Travis Konarzewski; nays: none. The motion carried. Committee members noted TeleCAD requested a response by the end of the next day and a poll vote would be issued to finalize the recommendation before the full Board considers a lease.

The committee also recorded procedural options should the lease later generate additional revenue, such as collecting a small fee if modifications produce extra income, and discussed offering alternative county property if the preferred site proves unsuitable.

Next steps: staff will deliver the committee recommendation to the Board and issue the poll vote requested by TeleCAD to meet the company's timeline.