9/10/12 Commissioners sign off on tower site agreements
By Nick Sabo
September 10, 2012
386
SUMMARY: Sign 99 year, $1 per annum lease
Towers constructed by an Ohio company will carry county emergency communication equipment at a cost of $1 per year.
The Holmes County Commissioners Thursday Sept. 6 signed off on agreements with Futronics, Inc. of Fremont that provides Futronics with land for tower sites in Berlin, and Knox, townships. In exchange, the county will receive use of Futronics towers to mount radio equipment and antennas.
The agreements come at the close of a search by the countys 9-1-1 committee to find permanent homes for its equipment while improving reception of its emergency radio network. Under the agreement, Futronics can rent out the remaining space to other clients.
The terms of the agreements are 99 years.
Commissioner Rob Ault said the county currently rents space on two towers at locations in the eastern and western parts of the county for a total of $1,200 per month. With one of the towers, the old lease agreement has expired, Ault said.
Its month to month, they could come in tomorrow and say were out of there, Ault said. (The Futronics agreement) is a well thought out project. Its been a long time coming.
The towers are to be constructed and the countys communications equipment mounted by May 31, 2013. If Futronics fails to meet the deadline, they must cover the countys rent at the current tower sites until the new towers are up.
The contract allows Futronics to order the county to shut down if their equipment is interfering with the equipment of clients. However, the county reserves the right to correct the issue and resume operations.
The agreement does not state the height of the towers. The county equipment will be mounted at heights of 400, and 375, feet.
The county will be responsible for security, access roads, fencing and general site maintenance at the tower sites, according to the agreement.
The land for the Knox County tower was purchased earlier this year by commissioners for $30,000. The Berlin Township land was donated by Robin Industries, Commissioner Joe Miller said.
Futronics was founded in 1937 and currently has more than 20 company owned and maintained tower sites, according to its website.
