County commissioners, in split vote, buy Summerson Mountain communication tower
LOCK HAVEN, PA – The Clinton County Commissioners, in a rare split vote, moved Thursday to spend $1 million to purchase a communication tower on Summerson Mountain in Chapman Township, the seller an Avis area family. The vote to approve the purchase was two to one, board chairman Miles Kessinger and commissioner Jeff Snyder voting yes, commissioner Angela Harding the no vote.
Harding noted the county has pending a USDA grant request for $1 million with a portion towards the project but expressed fear about how the purchase would be paid for if that request falls through. She said, “I don’t see the immediacy” for the purchase.
She said she supported the need for proper equipment and resources in the interest of public safety.” She also provided background on the issue in her extensive comments:
“The County, through the planning and grant department is currently seeking millions of dollars in grants to update our 911 communication and technology. I fully support those efforts.
“With that said, I deem this motion to be premature.
“This tower and equipment shelter purchase is in limbo as to whether or not we are able to use a USDA grant for the purchase. We still do not have an answer to that question. If we find out after this vote that we cannot use $750,000 of the grant for the purchase of the tower and $250,000 of the Department of Emergency Services reserves for the match…the County is on the hook for $1 million. The request for grant clarification is on the desks at USDA, Senator Casey’s office, and we have an official congressional inquiry.
“This decision is being rushed due to a presumed prospective buyer offering $1.2 million. And the previous County boards and administration’s negligence in not legally securing our equipment puts the county in a position of uncertainty.
“The County currently owns five towers and uses eight. Of the three not owned by the county; one is a trade service with the State at Tamarack. The Howard tower we pay rent in the amount of $2,900 per year and an additional $3,300 per year for snow removal, and this the third tower is Summerson Mountain/Charles tower of which we currently pay $400 per month or $4,800 per year. The County overlooked signing a lease on this tower in 2014 and has been month to month since. This oversight is now putting the communication at risk and putting this very burdening cost on the county.
“Not only am I unsure how we are going to pay for the tower….
“I do not know when the tower was built.
“I do not have any knowledge that we have tried to negotiate the price.
“I have not seen any comparison values or appraisals for the tower.
“The tower failed a professionally done structural integrity review in 2020 and will cost an additional several thousand dollars to repair and bring back to passing conditions.
“To my knowledge we have not inquired about holding a long-term lease like the two, possibly three tenants currently on the tower. In fact, I have not been given or had an opportunity to review the detailed long-term leases that we are adopting with the purchase of the tower. Nor am I 100% sure of the exact amount of rent being paid is on those leases. This means we do not know the revenue that is currently or that will be indebted to the county long term.
“If the county would negotiate a long-term lease on this tower with an access easement included at $1,000 per month with a 5% increase each year for ten years, the total cost to the county would be just over $133,000.
“It is my belief that at a time when our tax payers are struggling to buy gas and get to work, afford basic needs due to inflation….it is irresponsible of us to agree to purchase a tower for $1 million dollars not knowing how we are going to pay for it, attempting to collaborate with the owners to find a reasonable solution, or having done our due diligence as to what we are actually buying.
“I can’t stress enough my support of or improving, upgrading, and protecting our communication capabilities.
“We just shouldn’t do that neglectfully.”
Her fellow commissioners offered briefer comments in approving the motion. Snyder said, “The family wants to sell the tower quickly,” adding that there was only discussion of a sale and not a lease and said the purchase would “protect the best interests of coverage in that area.” The meeting agenda listed the owners as Thomas F. Charles, Dennis L. Charles and Darla K. Zimmerman.
Kessinger said he understood Harding’s concerns but said the tower is a vital piece of equipment for emergency services in western Clinton County. He said there “are ways around” with grant money to cover the purchase cost and the proposal is in the county’s “best interest to buy.”
