AGENDA DATE: 9/2/2020
TITLE:
Title
Buck's Elbow Mountain Tower Lease
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Request to Set a Public Hearing to Approve a Telecommunications Tower Lease on Buck's Elbow Mountain
ITEM TYPE: Consent Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Walker, Kamptner, Herrick, Saxton, Elias
PRESENTER (S): Andy Herrick
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: The County owns a 120-foot telecommunications tower and tower site located on Buck's Elbow Mountain. This tower hosts equipment used by the Charlottesville-U.Va.-Albemarle County Emergency Communications Center ("ECC") as part of the regional 800 MHz. public safety radio system. From 1996 to 2001, the County leased excess space on the tower, as well as ground space for an equipment shelter, to Charlottesville Cellular Partnership, the local licensing entity for U.S. Cellular Corporation. In July, 2001, the County renewed the lease for another five-year term that ended in July, 2006. Following the expiration of that lease, U.S. Cellular remained on-site and continued to make payments according to the lease terms.
After obtaining a fair market value study from RCC Consulting, a firm that the ECC contracted for various telecommunications matters, the parties subsequently entered a new five-year lease (for 7/1/2008-6/30/2013), with two additional five-year extensions (for 7/1/2013-6/30/2018 and 7/1/2018-6/30/2023, respectively).
USCOC of Virginia RSA #3, Inc. now wishes to enter a new lease with an initial term of 7/1/2023-6/30/2028. The resulting lease, attached to this summary, has been accepted by U.S. Cellular. Virginia Code ? 15.2-1800 requires the Board to hold a public hearing prior to approving a lease of this County property.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Quality Government Operations: Ensure County government's capacity to provide high quality service that achieves community priorities
DISCUSSION: The proposed lease is based on 3% annual rental incre...
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