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Commissioners approve $1.74 million insurance renewal and lease update for county cell tower
Summary
Porter County accepted a 2026–27 property and casualty renewal with a total premium of $1,739,611 (about a 7% increase) and approved a lease with SBA Towers LLC for a legacy cell tower site; commissioners said negotiations increased the projected contract value substantially over the county's prior lease.
Porter County commissioners approved the county's property and casualty insurance renewal for the 2026–27 term and accepted a new or amended lease for a county-owned cell tower after staff presented both items.
Rob Shaveville of High Street Insurance and Financial Services told the commission the total renewal premium for the 2026 term across all lines of business is $1,739,611, "that is just over 7% increase from the 2025 term." Commissioners asked clarifying questions and then moved to accept the renewal.
On a separate agenda item, staff presented negotiations with SBA Towers LLC (described in the presentation as a legacy tower at 2055 Hin Road). Staff said negotiations raised the life-of-lease value from roughly $450,000 to about $875,000 and included an increased signing payment. The presentation noted an annual rent figure presented to the commission of $21,600 per year; staff recommended acceptance and the commission approved the lease by voice vote.
Commissioners framed both votes as part of routine county risk management and asset negotiations. The insurance renewal and lease approval were recorded as motions, each seconded and carried by voice vote. The commission did not provide a roll-call tally in the record provided.
The meeting record shows minor inconsistencies in how the tower lessee was referenced in discussion (both "SBA Towers LLC" and the shorthand "SP Towers" appear in the transcript); staff said the updated terms bring the county closer to market levels for long-term tower leases.
