Nextel communications, now Sprint, has notified Jasper County officials that it is terminating its lease agreement for use of the tower at the Secondary Roads Department office in Newton. Jasper County Zoning Administrator Larry Ryan notified the Board of Supervisors at its regular meeting Tuesday of the lease termination.

Ryan said that Nextel would like to leave all the equipment, including the antennas and mounts, and the coaxial cables for the county to use, plus the equipment shelter, but not the transmitting equipment inside the shelter. The tower belongs to the county. Sprint has said in its letter to the county that it is in the process of shutting down the Nextel network.

Ryan said he will try to find another communication provider to lease the tower, which also is used for communication by Secondary Roads personnel.