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Village authorizes staff to open talks with T‑Mobile as lease nears renewal
Summary
The Belgium Village Board authorized the finance and personnel committee to open negotiations with T‑Mobile regarding its tower lease; staff reported the current rent and escalation schedule and will return with proposed terms after discussion with T‑Mobile.
The Village of Belgium board on Oct. 14 authorized staff to open negotiations with T‑Mobile over the cellular tower lease as the current contract approaches a renewal window.
A staff member told the board the current monthly payment is $2,073.60 and that the contract includes a 20% escalation every five years. The company had submitted a letter asking to renegotiate; staff recommended opening talks rather than immediately committing to a new dollar amount or term.
"They're asking for $17.50 a month with a 15% escalation," the staff summary said of the T‑Mobile proposal, adding that the committee’s suggested approach was to meet in the middle with a lower escalation schedule and to return with a recommended offer. Another staff member noted the village’s current term runs to May 2025 and that negotiations could affect whether the company seeks alternate locations once the term ends.
The board gave staff authority to begin negotiations and emphasized that staff should consult with village counsel and report back with specific term‑length and escalation options before the board approves any final lease amendment.
Next steps: finance and personnel staff will open talks with T‑Mobile, consult with counsel, and present negotiated options for board consideration. No change to the existing lease is effective until the board approves terms.
