The Barton County Commission Monday morning approved an amended lease agreement with Brad Demel for property east of Susank that is the site of a county 911 communications radio tower.

The county currently holds an existing lease for land, which amounts to about two and a half acres. It approved a lease agreement with Demel on June 19, said 911 Director Dena Popp. 

Under the proposed lease, certain provisions are restated and amendments were clarified. In particular, the lease now includes language so that Barton County can fence in the leased area.

However, when presented with the agreement, Demel asked for certain revisions. Among these was increasing the rent from $300 per year to $500 per year, and this was included in action taken Monday. 

The updated agreement would through 2026, with an option to renew until 2036.  

The Barton County 911 radio tower sits a quarter of a mile east of Susank on NE 190 Road and stands 300 feet in the air. It is an integral part of the county’s emergency communications network.

The county owns two radio towers, the one at Susank and the one near Doonan’s Peterbilt at the intersection of U.S. 56 and K-156. It also has also leased space on private towers.