Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Contracts topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Supervisors table Crescent 911 tower lease after concerns over two‑year termination clause
Summary
Pottawattamie supervisors paused action on a proposed lease with the City of Crescent for a county 911 tower after several board members said a two‑year termination right would leave the county vulnerable to a $1.5–2 million capital outlay; staff were asked to renegotiate lease language and return with options.
The Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors on April 14 discussed and ultimately tabled a lease agreement with the City of Crescent to site a 911 communications tower on Crescent land after members raised contractual concerns.
County attorney and staff explained the lease language permits either party to terminate the agreement with two years’ notice. Several supervisors objected, saying that the county could be expected to spend roughly $1.5–2 million on tower construction and associated work; they argued that a two‑year termination window would expose the county to substantial financial risk. One supervisor said, "We're spending a million and a half on this project... and it can be canceled in two years," and asked staff to seek reworked language tying the termination provision to the initial 10‑year term or otherwise lengthening protections.
County counsel said the termination clause mirrors language used in other county leases and that Crescent would not agree to a longer notice period during initial negotiations. The board discussed options including revising rent, aligning the two‑year clause with a 10‑year initial term, or seeking alternate tower sites in Crescent. Crescent reportedly has already signed the lease on its side; county staff and supervisors volunteered to reopen talks with Crescent's counsel to attempt a negotiated change.
Given the unresolved contractual risk and the large capital exposure noted by supervisors, the board took no final action and tabled the item. Supervisors asked county attorney and staff members to renegotiate the lease's notice and termination language and to report back at a future meeting. The board also discussed involving county representatives in site‑plan review, and asked staff to provide further detail on what the first term obligates the parties to do before any final authorization.
