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Mercer County approves contracts and lease for 450-foot radio towers, orders environmental testing
Summary
Mercer County commissioners approved a land lease and multiple vendor contracts to install 450-foot communications towers at Grove City and Masury and authorized environmental testing and monitoring services for the Grove City site. The measures passed unanimously on Jan. 8.
Mercer County commissioners on Jan. 8 authorized a land lease and several vendor contracts to advance a county radio-transmission project, including environmental testing at the Grove City tower site and installation of two 450-foot Sabre guyed towers.
The board approved a 20-year land lease (with an optional 20-year renewal) with Gary and Cynthia Butch for a 65-by-75-foot site and three guyed-wire areas on Mercer Grove City Road in Findley Township. The lease carries an annual rental of $1.00 and was approved under Resolution 2026-007 by a unanimous vote of Commissioners McGonigle, Finley and Coleman.
The commissioners also approved a series of vendor contracts tied to the project. Resolution 2026-010 authorized a one-year agreement with SPX Aids to Navigation for tower-lighting monitoring and call-center services at a cost of $540 for the year (and $45 monthly after the initial term). Resolution 2026-011 approved a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment at the Grove City site with Tower Services Unlimited for $11,500 to test soils for chemicals of concern. Under Resolutions 2026-012 and 2026-013 the board approved contracts with Tower Services Unlimited to install 450-foot Sabre guyed towers at Grove City ($948,060) and at Masury, Ohio ($972,765); both contracts use Pennsylvania State Contract No. 4400027244 and will be paid from the 2025 Bond Fund.
Commissioner McGonigle thanked project contributors; Commissioner Finley said, "I am looking forward to getting the Radio Project completed." Finley also told a reporter that the county expects to own five towers and lease space on three others, and he said construction could begin in spring.
Solicitor Bill McConnell and county staff provided procedural assurances that leasing, recording and permitting steps were in place: the board also authorized payment of $91.18 to the Recorder of Deeds for recording the lease memorandum (Resolution 2026-008). The approved contracts include freight and prevailing-wage provisions and direct staff to proceed under the state contract terms.
Next steps: the county will complete the Phase II assessment and proceed with tower installation contracting and site work under the approved resolutions. No financing obstacles were reported at the meeting.
