Comment period extended for school cell tower proposal

by Hilary Matheson Daily Inter Lake
| May 4, 2018 2:00 AM

Kalispell Public Schools has extended a public commenting period to June 8 regarding the proposal to install a cell tower on the rooftop of Flathead High School.

The public may also give input at a forum set for 5 p.m. on May 15 at Kalispell Middle School, 205 Northwest Lane. People will be able to comment, ask questions and learn more about the issue.

People attending the forum are asked to use the entrance located by the upper parking lot, which can be reached by turning onto Parkway Drive off North Meridian Road.

A school board meeting will follow the forum at 6 p.m. The proposal may be on the agenda as a potential action item.

Verizon is asking for the school district’s permission to install, maintain and operate “communications equipment” — currently a cell tower. A platform and enclosure will measure approximately 23 feet tall from the rooftop and will camouflage the cell tower. A balloon test is scheduled for May 15 to check height and visibility of the structure.

The building and rooftop lease agreement would start with a five-year term beginning July 1 if approved by the school board. Actual installation of the cell tower wouldn’t begin for some time since the building is currently under construction. The contract would automatically be extended for four additional five-year terms if Verizon does not terminated it.

If approved, Verizon would cover construction costs of building the cell tower in addition to paying the school district $1,700 in monthly rent — a total of $20,400 annually. The money would go into the high school district budget. It has not been discussed how the money would be used.

The proposal has proved to be controversial in the community. People living around the high school and wider Kalispell have raised concerns about the potential long-term health impacts of exposure to radio frequency emissions and began a petition opposing the cell tower. Some residents are also concerned about possible impacts to property value, the preliminary lease terms and the amount of rent the district would be paid.

People may submit comments to the school district by email to kornickb@sd5.k12.mt.us. Comments may also be mailed to Kalispell Public Schools, Beth Kornick, 233 First Ave E., Kalispell, MT 59901.

For more information visit http://www.sd5.k12.mt.us.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.