law enforcement centerThe law enforcement center in Jefferson will soon be getting a new piece of communication equipment.

The Greene County Board of Supervisors recently approved an agreement with Verizon Wireless to have them install a new cellular tower on the county-owned building. We previously reported that the cellular company first approached Greene County Sheriff Jack Williams in 2016 about installing the new tower. Back then, Verizon Wireless could only put a new cell tower at the LEC due to the City of Jefferson’s ordinances and restrictions with cell towers, which states they couldn’t put it anywhere else. The location was formerly approved by the Jefferson Planning and Zoning Commission in 2016.

The new tower would be owned by Verizon. The cellular company has also agreed to pay an annual rental rate of $6,000 for a five-year contract, plus an additional $9,000 one-time fee to install all communication equipment upgrades for the sheriff’s office. Williams notes that they will be in compliance with the Iowa State Interoperability Communication System. Williams says his office isn’t responsible for paying for any of the installation or equipment upgrades.

As part of the agreement, Verizon is allowed to automatically extend the agreement for four additional five-year terms at their cost. There was no clear timetable of when the new tower will be installed.