Townsend City Council Meeting - 09/15/2026
Author: Rachael Brug, Staff Reporter
Article Published: 09/25/2026 Volume: 5 Edition: 12Townsend City Council Meeting
Rachael Brug
Staff Reporter
09/15/2026
Townsend City Council advances telecommunications ordinance, discusses Verizon Site Options
Meeting addresses infrastructure needs and passenger rail planning:
The Townsend City Council, led by Mayor Vickie Rauser, advanced a telecommunications franchise ordinance on first reading and heard updates on cellular infrastructure and regional rail development at its September 15 meeting.
Telecommunications Ordinance Moves Forward
Council passed Ordinance 2026-02 on first reading, establishing procedures and requirements for telecommunications networks in city rights of way. The 11-page ordinance drew questions from Visionary Communications, represented by Director of Regulatory Affairs Kyle Farley.
Farley raised concerns about Section 4, noting the ordinance lacks specific permitting timelines, fee schedules, and approval procedures while other telecommunications providers currently operate in the city. "We're not opposed to it," Farley said, emphasizing that Visionary would comply once the ordinance passes. He sought clarification on whether Visionary could proceed with permitting under existing procedures while the city develops the required regulatory framework.
Farley also questioned Section 18, which addresses additional conduit and facility placement requirements beyond standard construction and installation standards. He expressed concern that selective placement demands could create discriminatory costs for specific providers and noted that similar language in other communities is typically governed by separate agreements rather than franchise ordinances.
City staff indicated the city attorney will address both concerns before second reading. The ordinance will return for final approval at a future meeting.
Verizon Proposes Cell Site Lease Options:
Verizon Wireless presented two options for retaining its macro cell site on the city's water tower at 500 Broadway Street. The company currently pays $1,292 monthly but is consolidating macro sites to reduce costs as 5G technology enables smaller micro cell coverage.
The "Stability" option would reduce monthly rent to $715 through 2055, securing the macro site long-term. The "Control" option offers a one-time lump sum payment of $162,000 in exchange for a 99-year easement, giving Verizon complete site management authority.
Council members noted that at the reduced monthly rate, the lump sum would equal approximately 18 years of payments, making the monthly option financially preferable if the city wants to retain income flexibility.
Verizon's representative acknowledged the company maintains termination rights in any lease and stressed that the proposals aim to balance Verizon's cost-effectiveness with the city's revenue expectations. Questions about easement language, technology upgrades, and how the options affect other telecom providers on the tower will be addressed by Verizon's transaction specialist.
City Attorney Ed Guza will review the proposal, with further discussion scheduled for the October 6 council meeting.
Passenger Rail Planning Advances:
Councilman JB Howick reported on the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority's recent annual meeting. The Big Sky North Coast Corridor Line is projected to serve approximately 360,000 passengers annually with $43 million in projected revenue, compared to $5 million for the existing Empire Builder line.
The Federal Rail Administration has temporarily halted projects for policy review, but Senator Tim Sheehy is assisting efforts to move the process forward. Howick recommended the city join Broadwater and Madison counties in exploring an urban transportation district to coordinate bus service supporting a future train station.
"If you thought you started early enough, you didn't," Howick quoted an industry panelist, emphasizing the need for long-term planning ahead of the rail system's arrival in the mid-2030s.
