T-Mobile reaches agreement with Iowa County

MARENGO — Iowa County reached an agreement with T-Mobile in which the communications company will pay the county for electricity it used at the water tower in Victor.

Iowa County contracted with T-Mobile in 2017 to provide power to the communications company through the county’s power system at the tower. T-Mobile subleases space on the tower to provide cellphone service.

The reinstated agreement in 2023 stipulated that T-Mobile would pay the county $150 a month, said Josh Humphrey, Iowa County Emergency Management coordinator. Actual usage by T-Mobile is closer to $900 a month, he said.

The county has a smart meter at the site now, said County Attorney Tim McMeen, and can more accurately measure T-Mobile’s usage.

The difference between actual usage and what T-Mobile was paying the county was brought to the county’s attention by Dylan Healey, the county’s building maintenance director, Humphrey said.

In a settlement approved by the Iowa County Board of Supervisors last month, T-Mobile will pay the county $26,100 for the electricity it used above the amount of $150 a month.

“This is just the settlement part,” said Assistant County Attorney Tim Dille. The attorneys are in the process of writing a new agreement with T-Mobile for future usage.