Cell-Tower Lease Approved at Big Hill Park

U.S. Cellular will be renting space from the City of Sturgeon Bay to locate a cell tower next to the water-tower facilities at Big Hill Park. File photo by Kevin Boneske.

The Sturgeon Bay Common Council voted Tuesday to approve a Finance/Purchasing and Building Committee recommendation that the city lease out land at Big Hill Park – the highest point on the east side – for the construction of a 170-foot cellular tower. 

U.S. Cellular’s plans call for the unilluminated tower to be the same height as the antenna on top of the nearby water tower. The 50-year lease agreement gives the city a base rent of $16,200 per year to increase by 12% every five years, for a total lease value in today’s dollars of $1,421,448. 

If U.S. Cellular subleases space on the tower, the city also retains 25% of the sublease revenue. The company will allow the co-location of public-safety communications equipment at the tower site without a fee or charge.