Hamburg City Council Monday, April 24, approved leasing land for a cellular tower, discussed on-going renovations, and heard about plans for grant dollars.
Council passed Resolution 2023-08 approving the lease of just over one-tenth of an acre of city-owned land on the west side of the old shirt factory building to Verizon.
Mayor David Streeter said that Verizon plans to use the land for a ground-built 5G cellular tower.
The area to be used for the tower itself has already been surveyed and covers just 5,625 square feet, or .13 acre, and will be enclosed with a fence.
That does not include the easements, which run from the northeast corner and the south end of the leased plot of land.
The lease agreement is valid for a five-year term, during which City of Hamburg will receive $400 per month from Verizon for the use of the property.
Streeter told council members that aside from the section discussed for Verizon in the resolution, the only portion of the land on the shirt factory property that has not been rented or leased to a business is the soccer field.
Swyft Connect occupies the building on the land, and Streeter told the council that the business has a new area representative.
Streeter said he plans to work with the new area representative to ensure the part of the property Swyft Connect uses for its materials is kept in order so that routine maintenance can be performed, such as moving the cables so that the city can mow the grass.
Renovations
Streeter also informed council that since their last meeting the courtroom had been repainted and the material that was added to the walls would act as a buffer from the noise outside.
Streeter also announced that work had begun that day on the new evidence room for the police department and two offices in city hall.
The tennis court renovations had been postponed due to excessive groundwater at the site.
“The rain put it on hold until June or July,” Streeter said.
He said the city re-ditched the area and once the ground has had more time to dry out, the planned resurfacing will take place.
Grants
Streeter also told the council that the city had just put in their application for an RDF grant that would match $50,000 of the cost of two vehicles that have been ordered.
The city will also begin paving streets soon, he said. The Street Aid grant awarded from the DOT will be used to pave five streets and an additional sixth short street in the next few months.
Festival
The Armadillo Festival is set to begin the first week of May, and Streeter asked the council to spread the word to residents about putting the city’s best foot forward.
Streeter told the council to expect a lot more people in town due to the festival; as a result, law enforcement presence will be increased throughout the area.
