Subdivision 1. Establishment. A county may establish and rent, lease, construct, equip, and maintain a radio broadcasting station or stations, with land-fixed repeater stations and other necessary communication equipment, to be used for public safety communications. It may acquire land, towers, or equipment by gift, purchase, lease, exchange, condemnation, or other means for use as a site for public safety communications equipment. Public safety communications sites may be acquired by lease for a period of up to 25 years in duration. Public safety communications may include police, fire, highway maintenance, emergency medical service, local government, forestry conservation, and other communications as determined by the county board.

Subd. 2. Antenna site use agreements. Use of county-owned radio towers, building rooftops, lands, and easements may be made available to commercial wireless service providers or other users for the purpose of installing antennas and equipment. The county may charge site use fees for the value of the real property or structure made available and for public safety communications systems costs. In lieu of a site use fee, the county may make agreements with commercial wireless service providers or other tower owners to place county equipment on privately owned towers and may accept improvements such as tower reinforcement, reconstruction, site development, or other site improvements to the county's communications system facilities or real or personal property. Antenna site use agreements and leases may be entered into by any means available and in the manner determined by the county board, with or without advertisement for bids.

History: 2003 c 43 s 1