Commissioners approve multiple long-term radio-tower licenses to expand 9-1-1 connectivity

The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a series of license agreements for radio-tower sites intended to strengthen 9-1-1 connectivity for first responders.

Purchasing recommended license agreements with CCAT LLC for the Banola, Claystole, Hickory Dog and Mount Pleasant tower sites with monthly fees ranging from $3,750 to $4,050 for 10-year terms (each with an annual 3% escalation and automatic multi-term renewal provisions) and a separate agreement with Diamond Towers 2, LLC for the North Shore Main site at $1,750 per month for five years. All agreements were approved by roll call.

Chair Mister Sherman called attention to the volume of negotiating and property arrangements required to secure the sites and thanked purchasing staff for ‘‘hundreds of hours of negotiation’’ to assemble the package, saying the approvals represented a major step toward improving county 9-1-1 connectivity.

Why it matters: The agreements secure physical access or collocation rights for public-safety radio equipment at multiple sites across the county, lock in multi-year rates, and include automatic renewal clauses. The costs will be paid from the public safety 9-1-1 fund as stated by purchasing staff.

What the board did: Each license agreement was moved, seconded and approved by roll call during the meeting. The approvals were recorded without amendments or substantive debate beyond the chair’s remarks acknowledging staff effort.

Next steps: With agreements approved, purchasing and public safety staff will proceed with implementation and equipment placement per standard operational planning and funding availability.