Journal Staff Report Torrance County is refusing to pay a private-property owner who wants compensation for county use of a tower that holds the county's four radio repeaters.
Repeaters boost radio signals to ensure full two-way radio coverage throughout the county.
The county's repeaters are used for the sheriff's department, emergency medical service and the county's road department. The site and the tower were previously owned by Transwestern Pipeline Co., which didn't charge the county for the use of its facilities. Ferrer asked the commission to enter into an agreement to pay rent on the tower starting on Feb. 15. He said he wasn't expecting payment from the county immediately but wanted to make sure the money would eventually be paid. You expect me to provide a service for free.