County weighs telecom buyout: board discusses $240,000 lump-sum offer for tower lease

The Crawford County Board of Supervisors discussed a telecommunications tower lease Feb. 20 after staff reported negotiations with a carrier that offered a lump-sum payment to terminate the county’s existing lease.

An unresolved lease the board discussed called for a monthly payment (transcript references $1,400 per month) to the county. According to the information presented, a carrier proposed a lump-sum buyout in the neighborhood of $240,000; staff also said the carrier offered an additional $100,000 over a previously discussed lump-sum amount during the conversation recorded in the meeting.

Supervisors raised concerns about longer-term revenue implications, including an estimate that selling the lease could represent a $250,000 reduction in future revenues, and objected to draft contract language that would split any future co-location rent 50/50 with the carrier if the county sold or leased the tower in full. Several supervisors said they were not comfortable giving up half of co-location rent and asked staff to return with clearer contract terms and financial projections.

The board noted a timeline tied to the carrier’s offer (an end-of-month decision window was mentioned) and asked staff to follow up before the deadline. No final decision was made; staff were authorized to explore the lump-sum option and request clarification on revenue-sharing and the term length in the proposal.