Commissioners ask that any tower approvals include decommissioning plan and financial surety

During discussion of new-business items, a commissioner asked that administration and the township attorney review the lease and the applicant’s decommissioning plan and ensure financing or guarantees are in place to prevent an abandoned tower.

"I would want the administration or our administrator to review the lease for the decommissioning plan and make sure that it meets our township's expectations and that there is appropriate financing and guarantees that this tower won't just simply be abandoned in the future," one commissioner said. The township attorney recommended making a decommissioning financial surety a condition of approval: "Condition of approval. Exactly. Financial surety that it would be decommissioned or removed when it's no longer being used," the attorney said, and noted administration can determine an appropriate bond amount.

Commissioners directed staff to add decommissioning concerns to follow-up items and to coordinate with administration on wording and financial guarantees should the commission move forward with any approval tied to a tower or lease agreement.