The Stearns County Planning Commission convened on July 24, 2025, to discuss significant developments regarding telecommunications infrastructure in the area. The meeting focused on a proposal from Tillman Infrastructure, represented by Buell Consulting, to construct a new cell tower for Verizon.

The discussion began with a background presentation by a representative from Buell Consulting, who explained that the project was initiated in September 2022. Verizon has been utilizing an existing tower located six-tenths of a mile south of the proposed site since 2002. However, due to unsuccessful negotiations with American Tower for reduced rental costs, Verizon sought an alternative solution to continue providing service in the area economically.

The representative highlighted that Tillman Infrastructure would build a new tower and offer Verizon a significantly lower rental rate compared to the current arrangement with American Tower. This move is essential for Verizon to maintain service without incurring excessive costs.

Additionally, it was noted that AT&T, the only other carrier on the existing tower, has also approached Tillman Infrastructure for similar reasons. They indicated that their current rental costs with American Tower are over three times higher than what they would pay to operate on the new site proposed by Tillman.

The meeting included a mention of comments received from neighboring residents, which the representative indicated could be addressed later in the discussion.

Overall, the Planning Commission's meeting underscored the critical need for updated telecommunications infrastructure to support both Verizon and AT&T in providing reliable service to the community while addressing economic feasibility. Further discussions and considerations regarding community feedback and project specifics are anticipated in future meetings.