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Committee advises counteroffer on cell-tower lease negotiations
Summary
Parish staff reviewed two cell-tower lease sites May 6; the committee gave consensus to ask for $1,500/month to both the City of Bossier City and Bossier Parish for the water-tower site and favored a five-year renewal with an $8,000 bonus for the Hazel Jones Drive site rather than a perpetual sale.
Dr. Ken Ward, parish administrator, reviewed two cell-tower lease locations at the May 6 Industrial Development Committee meeting and asked for guidance on acceptable terms.
For the Hazel Jones Drive site Dr. Ward said the initial rental was $8,400 annually with a 10% annual increase and the current annual rental is $9,240; American Tower offered a one-time payment of $140,000 for a perpetual lease or a five-year lease with an $8,000 bonus plus the annual 10% increase. "I have reviewed both options and I agree that keeping the lease terms and accepting the bonus is more fiscally sound," Dr. Ward said. For the second location (the City-owned water tower at Airline Drive and McElroy Street), Dr. Ward said AT&T proposed raising payments and that the city and parish currently receive different monthly rents; he said the City proposed AT&T remit $1,500 per month to each entity.
The chair called for a consensus and jurors agreed that Dr. Ward should counter the AT&T proposal by requesting $1,500 per month to both the City of Bossier City and Bossier Parish. Dr. Ward said he will keep the committee informed on negotiation status.
What happens next: parish administration will continue negotiations with AT&T and American Tower and report back to the committee.
