Council authorizes negotiation with Radio Link over water‑tower lease after public criticism and liability concerns

New Richland — The council on April 13 authorized the city attorney and city administrator to negotiate contract language with Radio Link, the local internet service provider that has occupied space on the city's water tower, after a lengthy public-comment period and detailed council discussion about liability, insurance and transition plans.

Public commenters presented sharply divergent views. Keith Johnson urged the council to let a local operator stay on the tower, arguing residents rely on the provider and praising quick on-site service: "Let us help a small business guy get going," he told the council. Another commenter, who identified themself as Fox, urged council to reject the contract as written, arguing it favored Radio Link and left the city exposed: Fox warned the contract allowed Radio Link to terminate on short notice, listed the company’s $1 million insurance as insufficient compared with tower replacement costs cited in the room as "between 5 or 7 million," and called for stronger protections for the city.

City Attorney Jason Moran told the council the circulated contract language was "fairly general" and said he could add protections, including stronger indemnity and insurance. Radio Link representatives said they were willing to agree to a time-limited arrangement to leave the tower but requested a transition window to avoid abruptly cutting service. A company representative described a proposed approach as to "simplify it" and asked for a fixed term to provide time to build replacement infrastructure and migrate customers.

Council members probed multiple technical and legal points: whether other carriers could replace the provider; whether the city had been named as additional insured under the existing arrangements (staff said it had not been required prior); what level of insurance would be sufficient; and how interference disputes among carriers on various frequency bands would be resolved. Moran advised that $1 million in liability coverage appeared low and recommended negotiating higher insurance limits and clearer indemnification.

After more than an hour of discussion on rent, term, insurance and decommission timing (Radio Link and some council members referenced a maximum transition window of up to five years but said that period could be shorter if replacement infrastructure was arranged), the council voted to authorize Jason Moran and City Administrator Tyler to negotiate contract language with Radio Link and return with a proposed agreement at the next scheduled meeting. Council asked for the draft to be presented promptly — staff and the company agreed to aim for a report at the next meeting — and counsel noted the contract would need clear language on insurance, indemnity, termination timing and any guarantees for continued service during a transition.

What happens next: Jason Moran and Tyler will negotiate terms with Radio Link and present a draft contract for council consideration at the next meeting. The council indicated it will seek stronger indemnity and insurance, clarity on any exclusivity or interference resolution, and a clear exit timeline that avoids abruptly leaving customers without service.