Commissioners sign off on tower contract amendment

On Tuesday, the Troup County Board of Commissioners approved a request to modify an agreement for antenna space at the Abbottsford Fire Station tower.

Public Services Director Dexter Wells explained that in 2005 the county entered into an option and ground lease agreement with Nextel for ground space for a cell tower and an access easement at the fire station. The agreement was later amended in 2013 to extend the term of the lease by 99 years until 2112.

Part of the original agreement gave the county the right to the one free space on the tower for an antenna for the duration of the lease.

The new agreement will change the duration of the agreement to be subject to renewal for up to four additional five-year terms with the agreement renewing for additional terms unless either party provides 120 days advance notice of intent to terminate prior to the expiration of the existing term.

The agreement will allow for the county to rent space to accommodate new antenna equipment to be placed on the tower for $1,500 per month.

“Basically, they wanted to take out our space on the antenna out of the original land agreement and put it into what we call the antenna agreement, which is just a lease of space. We ended up negotiating where if anybody cancels that contract, [the county’s free space] is still there. We don’t lose that right. So we can always have an antenna on that,” said IT Director Alan Slaughenhaupt.

The commissioners also approved the acceptance of a series of grants from the Council of Accountability Court Judges Funding Committee to provide operating funds for accountability courts for FY25.

The following grants were accepted:

4 Felony Adult Drug Court was awarded $209,751 with a $37,015 county match from DATE Fund

4 Family Treatment Court was awarded $167, 250 with a $29,515 county match from DATE Fund

4 Mental Health Court was awarded $117,374 with a $20,713 county match from DATE Fund

4 The DUI/Drug Court has been awarded $145, 326 with a $5,646 County match from DATE Fund and a $20,000 match provided by the LaGrange Police Department

In other business, the commissioners:

4 Approved the acceptance of a 2023 Roadside Enhancement and Beautification Council (REBC) grant for $50,000 to fund landscaping improvements to SR109 and to Pyne Road Park.

4 Approved a request by the Troup County Fire Department to apply for the Georgia EMS Association EMR/EMT Course Grant. The funds would be used to host in-house EMR/EMT classes for a minimum of 12 students. The grant will pay for up to 25 students to take the course.

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