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Council authorizes negotiations on RadioLink tower lease after tense exchange; decommissioning date extended
Summary
After hours of debate over liability and rent, the New Richland City Council authorized its attorney to negotiate with RadioLink and approved a temporary extension of the provider’s decommissioning deadline to allow talks to proceed.
The New Richland City Council on March 9 authorized the city attorney to enter contract negotiations with RadioLink, a local fixed-wireless provider, after multi-hour public discussion about liability, compensation and the future use of the city water tower.
RadioLink’s representative told the council the company has served the area for 13 years and said the city’s notice to remove equipment would force “over 430” customers to find new service. The speaker asked the council to suspend the 60-day removal requirement and negotiate terms, saying the firm invested in fiber and equipment to use the tower as a distribution point.
The city attorney cautioned the council that tower leases carry legal and maintenance risks, criticized the draft agreement as “woefully inadequate” and recommended a nonexclusive, shorter-term contract that protects the city. Council members raised concerns about OSHA and Department of Health findings related to cabling and said the city needs explicit language about access, indemnity and engineering review.
Council votes produced a tie on an initial motion not to enter a contract. Later the body voted to authorize the city attorney to pursue negotiation. The council also approved a motion — attached to the negotiation authorization — to extend the decommissioning window by 90 days so the parties can exchange documentation and pursue good‑faith talks before any equipment removal.
RadioLink’s representative questioned the rent levels the city’s draft suggested, noting nearby examples the council had cited and arguing the provider is a fixed wireless (not a nationwide mobile carrier) with smaller power requirements. The council said lease terms (length, exclusivity, insurance, access and remedies for tower damage) are negotiable and must reflect the city’s risk tolerance.
Next steps: the city attorney was authorized to begin drafting and exchanging contract language and to request documentation (insurance, inspection reports and engineering plans) from the provider; the topic is expected to return to a future council meeting for additional action if needed.
