Daniels County officials seek clarity on Billings’ tower decommissioning proposal

Daniels County commissioners said a draft proposal from the City of Billings that would move a decommissioned radio tower to the county appears to shift decommissioning and removal costs, and liability for any damage, onto Daniels County.

The board discussed the proposal at length during its Nov. 18 meeting after staff circulated a copy. “It looks to us that we’re going to pay the full extent of everything on this,” one commissioner said, noting the draft included language requiring “reimbursement to the city of any damage to city property which may occur during decommissioning and removal of the tower.”

Why it matters: commissioners said the idea — reusing a tower Billings must remove — could save Daniels County money if the city covers the bulk of removal costs, but the current draft did not include firm figures or a clear cost split. County officials said they need a line‑by‑line cost estimate before agreeing to move forward and flagged the legal exposure of paying an undefined amount for decommissioning and transport.

County staff and a phone caller who identified himself as Brian Mayus told commissioners they would contact Billings staff (Priscilla was referenced) to request a clearer cost breakdown and confirm whether earlier discussions about splitting crane and removal costs still apply. “Send that to me and I’ll call Priscilla,” the caller said, offering to help confirm whether the agreement language had changed since initial conversations.

The commissioners also discussed technical alternatives. Several members said they wanted to explore running fiber‑optic service to the tower location as a backup or primary method for 911 dispatch connectivity rather than relying solely on a transplanted tower. A local technician was also expected to evaluate antennas and cabling for ambulance radios during the same meeting day.

What happened next: staff were instructed to obtain a detailed cost breakdown, confirm whether Billings intends Daniels County to bear the full decommissioning and transport costs, and involve legal counsel as needed. Brian Mayus said he would contact Billings staff and report back to the county before the board committed to signing any agreement.

Provenance: Board discussion and the phone call with Billings’ contact are recorded in the meeting transcript beginning with the billings/tower proposal discussion (topic intro SEG 2500) and continuing through the call with Brian (SEG 3028–3190). The board expressed concern about the reimbursement clause at SEG 3230–3236.

Ending: Commissioners did not approve an agreement; they directed staff to seek a detailed cost breakdown and legal review before any commitment.