Cell Tower Plans Moving Forward

Things are moving forward on the proposal for a cell tower at the administration building on Lawrence Road.

Assistant Superintendent for Finance, Phil Kenter, said at Tuesday evening’s board meeting that there were three proposed sites on the administration property. Kenter said the district was able to negotiate a 50/50 income split with Suffolk Wireless Communications, the company managing the project, on all rental income.

According to a presentation given at the Jan. 11 board of education meeting, the tower would take up about 2500 square feet. Cell carriers AT&T, Verizon and Nextel have shown interest in leasing space. The high school had been considered as an option for the tower, however placing it on the administration property would provide the best coverage in an area that is considered a dead zone for cell coverage.

Kenter said that according to Suffolk Wireless, “all space on the tower will be rented before it is even up.”

Kenter said a full presentation on the cell tower plan would be given at the Feb. 28 board of education meeting.