GSA Finalizes Deed Transfer for Tower in Maine

February 27, 2018

Public safety personnel and city officials in Gardiner, Maine will greatly benefit from the 260-foot former Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) communications tower that is now in their portfolio.

GSA visited the tower, which was deemed surplus by the FAA, for a site inspection in April 2017. During this time, city officials expressed interest in acquiring the site for emergency management response use through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Benefit Conveyance program. The deed transfer was completed earlier this month.

The acquisition of the tower, located at 78 Libby Hill Road, will greatly improve communications for the city’s fire, police, public works, and school bus transportation.

“The attainment of this tower is a great example of how property that is no longer beneficial to the original federal agency can have great value to a local agency,” said Gardiner Fire Chief Al Nelson. “The GSA, FAA and FEMA were amazing to work with in making this procurement a reality.”

While their old tower was 100 feet tall, this larger tower will assist in filling dead spots and improving safety for firefighters, paramedics, and police officers by eliminating those areas where communications were difficult or nonexistent. The city’s emergency reuse plan encompasses a service area of approximately 173 square miles serving a population of nearly 24,000.

“GSA is pleased the City of Gardiner was able to acquire the former FAA tower site for their emergency management response use at no cost under the Public Benefit Conveyance Program”, said Glenn Rotondo, Acting Regional Administrator for the GSA New England Region. “This action is of great value to the community and will save taxpayer dollars.”