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Regular Agenda Item 4. E.

Regular BOS Meeting

Meeting Date:	04/16/2019
Submitted For:	Jacque Sanders
Submitted By:	Kelly Riggs, Information Technology Director
Department:	Deputy County Mgr/Library District	Division:	Information Technology

Information

Request/Subject

Approval of an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between Gila County and Maricopa County for co-location on Mt. Ord.

Background Information

This IGA will allow Gila County to co-locate existing and future equipment from the Gila County communications tower located on Mt. Ord to the adjacent Maricopa County communications tower. The existing Gila County tower is old and structurally no longer able to support the weight of the equipment it supports. A structural analysis of the tower was performed on May 17, 2017, by the engineering firm of Amec Foster Wheeler. They stated in a written report that the tower is not adequate to carry the prescribed wind loads for the structure, antennae and appurtenances, and that the only possible recommendation they could give is to replace the tower.

Evaluation

Based on the recommendation of the structural engineering firm, County personnel looked at two possible solutions. The first solution would be to replace the existing tower with a new tower. Estimates from a tower construction company put this cost for the County at about $510,000. The second solution would be to co-locate existing County equipment from the current tower to a new Maricopa County tower adjacent to the structure. Maricopa County will allow Gila County to co-locate to the new tower with no recurring fee for a period of 10 years (renewable for 3 terms of 5 years each), as long as all work and maintenance is routed through Maricopa County personnel for review/approval and performed by a Maricopa County approved contractor. The cost estimate to co-locate to the Maricopa County tower is about $290,000.

Conclusion

With a significant upfront cost savings, it is in the best interest of Gila County to take advantage of the IGA with Maricopa County. This will give Gila County the time it needs to prepare for the eventual construction of a new communications tower on Mt. Ord.

Recommendation

Information Technology staff recommend the approval of an IGA between Gila County and Maricopa County that will allow for Gila County equipment mounted on the County communications tower on Mt. Ord to be relocated to the adjacent Maricopa County communications tower.

Suggested Motion

Information/Discussion/Action to approve Intergovernmental Agreement No. C-78-19-011-3-00 between Gila County and Maricopa County for the relocation of equipment from the Gila County communications tower located on Mt. Ord to the adjacent Maricopa County communications tower for a period of 10 years, renewable for up to 3 terms of 5 years each. (Kelly Riggs)

Attachments
Intergovernmental Agrement with Maricopa County
Tower Structure Report
Tower Cost Quotes