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Menasha Board approves 4th amendment to AT&T cell-tower lease with new 15-year term and annual increases
Summary
The Menasha Board of Public Works on June 1 approved a 4th amendment to the city's cell-site lease with AT&T, moving from multiple five-year terms to one 15-year term, adding a 2% annual rent escalator and an immediate roughly 8% increase over last year's payment; the motion passed 8-0.
MENASHA, Wis. — The Menasha Board of Public Works approved a 4th amendment to the city's cell-site lease with AT&T Corporation at a special meeting June 1, a move staff said will extend the contract to a single 15-year term and add a 2% annual rent escalation. The board voted 8-0 to adopt the amendment, which the city said takes effect June 9, 2026.
Director Merton deferred to Deputy Director Thad Brown for details. "We went from four five-year terms to one 15-year term," Brown said, and added that the amendment includes a 2% annual increase. Brown said the negotiated changes produced an immediate increase of about 8% above what the city received last year, with the 2% escalator applied thereafter.
The change was described as a renewal of the lease for the cell tower located on the Public Works facility property. Brown and Director Merton credited city attorneys and staff for negotiating the terms; Director Merton praised Brown for his work in securing the amendment.
Alderman Rahn pressed staff on contract language that he said appeared to create a new tenant termination right. "It looks like it creates a new kind of termination right allowing them to terminate the lease at any time for any reason," Rahn said. An attorney in the meeting confirmed the interpretation, and Deputy Director Brown clarified that the rent-guarantee period in Section 3 does not survive a tenant termination. "No. It does not," Brown said, adding, "so everybody understands we don't have guaranteed money," meaning the city would not retain guaranteed rent if the tenant exercises that termination right.
Alderman Eisenach asked how long the city had held the lease; staff said the original lease began in 2001 and said the carrier has been on site for roughly 20 years.
Alderman School moved to approve the amendment; the motion was seconded (second not specified) and, after discussion and staff responses to questions, Deputy Clerk Janet announced the motion carried, 8-0. The meeting adjourned at 5:54 p.m.
The amendment references the lease between the City of Menasha and AT&T Corporation and is expected to take effect June 9, 2026. No additional public comment was recorded during the meeting.
