Cell tower valuation contract pending approval of commissioners

At the November 21 tax assessor meeting two very different companies sought a contract for cell tower equipment valuation to insure the proper numbers were being returned for tax purposes. Of those two companies, it appears the winner of the contract will be Traylor Business Services of Kennesaw.The assessors had been tasked by the Board of Commissioners to get bids and presentations from companies then return their best offer to them. The assessors met December 19th and voted unanimously to bring the proposal from Traylor forward to the commissioners at their next work session this Thursday.

The bid was $27,000 and according to assessor Glenda Thompson it was the most cost effective and also had solid references.

“From everything I’ve seen, even though Traylor is less expensive, I think the quality is superior there. That’s what we’re really after…It just so happens that it is a lower cost also,”

Chief Tax Appraiser Roy Dobbs said.

Please see the previous story November 25, 2013:

The Pickens Tax Assessors last discussed cell tower valuation at their October 18 meeting. Chief Appraiser Roy Dobbs said at their November meeting that the board of commissioners has referred the two companies seeking the contract back to the assessors for recommendation to the commissioners.

The issue is that they believe the cell companies who attach various equipment to cell towers has been returning those values under what they are actually worth in terms of costs and life expectancy. With the rapid movement of the technology sector, it is difficult to know what the proper values are without specialists which are few and far between. The various cell companies across the country keep those figures cloaked in mystery.

Two companies with two differing strategies met with the assessors on November 21.The first, Cell Tower Solutions guaranteed an increase in revenues and states their fees should run in the vicinity of $41,000-47,000. Those are contingent upon their ability to access each site (which is dependent upon the cell companies), any appeals and if expert testimony should be required for appeals. Company Vice-President Walt Woodard stated that is generally not the case as the cell phone companies don’t want to carry it through court as it increases the profile of the widespread problem.

The second company, Traylor Business Services performs it’s work on a case-by-case basis, assigning static costs to each tower by type and size, not an overall approach. They stated there’s no way to honestly say that you will be reaping more revenues as some equipment devalues over time and others are higher than the cell companies would claim. Nevertheless, they guaranteed they may boast a 100 percent satisfaction rate; great public relations (the ability to work through most difficulties without litigation) and correct values on all property.

Brian Traylor assured the board that once they are apprised of all towers in the county an estimate could be rendered.

Dobbs stated that the current valuation is at $2.7 million but anticipates that could double once the study is completed.

The board will take both companies comments and provide the requested information for consideration before making a decision on which company the should recommend to the commissioners as best serving Pickens County. See the previous story at:

Tax Assessors October Story