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Verizon seeks steep rent cut for county tower; commissioners express little support
Summary
A Verizon lease agent proposed lowering the county's annual tower rent from roughly $8,400 to a $500 one‑time payment plus a 5% five‑year escalator and requested a perpetual easement; commissioners said the offer provided no clear benefit to taxpayers and declined to pursue it without a formal case.
County staff summarized a proposal from a Verizon lease agent to revise terms on a county‑owned tower in the Bad Medicine area. The agent reportedly proposed reducing ongoing annual rent to a one‑time $500 payment with a 5% escalator applied every five years and sought a perpetual easement if Verizon vacated the site.
Commissioners said the proposal would sharply reduce county revenue (current lease roughly $8,400 per year) and offered little public benefit. "There is absolutely zero benefit for Becker County taxpayer... I couldn't think of any benefits," one commissioner said. Board members noted the existing contract includes a term and renewal schedule and that mid‑term renegotiations without a compelling county benefit were not appropriate. The board did not authorize staff to accept the offer; staff were asked to decline or invite Verizon to present more detail if the company wants formal consideration.
Next steps: staff will inform Verizon the board has no appetite for the proposed reduction absent additional information or demonstrable public benefit.
