ADRIAN — A 180-foot cell tower could rise near Adrian’s water treatment plant — if the numbers and the view line up.
City Commissioners are considering a lease agreement with a telecommunications firm that wants to build the tower on about 5,000 square feet of city-owned green space. Two options are on the table: a one-time $120,000 payment for a 55-year easement or a monthly lease at $600 for five years, with nine renewal terms and a 1.5% annual increase.
The tower would sit on the north side of the facility’s front yard. While commissioners acknowledged the revenue opportunity, some raised concerns about how the tower could affect the landscape and future development — whether the structure could be disguised or relocated to lessen the visual impact. No vote was taken, but discussion will continue as the city reviews its options.
If approved, the tower could bring in steady income — but not without altering the skyline.