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Commissioners postpone Verizon lease amendment after non‑compete concerns
Summary
Sweetwater County postponed action on a first amendment to a land-lease for a fairgrounds cell tower after commissioners raised concerns that a non‑compete clause could limit leasing other county parcels; the board asked staff and counsel to clarify paragraph 6 and parent‑parcel definitions before returning the item.
The board unanimously moved to postpone consideration of a first amendment to a land‑lease with Verizon/American Tower at the fairgrounds after commissioners expressed concern over a broad non‑compete clause in paragraph 6.
Public Works Director Gene Magerski and county counsel reviewed the draft amendment, which would add 255 square feet of equipment pad, an escalator adjustment and an additional five‑year term. Commissioner Richards said the amendment appeared to include a non‑compete provision restricting the county from leasing other parcels within the "parent parcel" and warned that could preclude future county leasing opportunities across the large events complex. "I just I just want to be careful that we don't sign away some rights here to make use of another piece remote piece of property out there," Richards said. Staff and counsel agreed that the paragraph needed clarification; the board voted to postpone the amendment to resolve definitions and paragraph language, noting the county had received a payment check that staff was holding pending final action.
Commissioners discussed that American Tower acts as agent for Verizon and that some confidential commercial terms limit public disclosure; however, they prioritized clarifying the non‑compete scope and the geographic meaning of the "parent parcel" before approving. The item will return to a future meeting after legal review and redline clarification.
