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Committee approves forwarding cell-tower buyout contracts to full board after health and finance questions
Summary
The committee voted to send two cell-tower easement buyout contracts (Nance and Long sites) to the full board with the payment option to be decided by the board; members questioned carrier operations and potential health risks before approving the recommendation (each buyout was approved with one abstention).
The Saint Louis Public Schools Real Estate Committee voted to forward two proposed lease-buyout contracts for cell-tower easements (Nance and Long sites) to the full board, with the committee leaving the final buyout payment option for the full board to select.
Joe Fiori, a consultant appearing by Zoom, said both sites host major carriers (T-Mobile on both sites and Verizon on the Riverview Boulevard location) and explained that on a buyout the carriers would continue to operate and have access rights so long as they remain active on the site. Fiori added that removal clauses exist in the agreements should a carrier vacate and that site insurance (he cited a $10,000,000 policy for a typical owner/operator) is in place.
A committee member raised questions about possible health risks to children near towers. Fiori responded by citing federal agency guidance: "the FDA and, I mean, the FCC, they haven't found any significant reason, that cell towers cause radiation," and added that personal phone use typically produces higher exposure than standing near a tower.
Committee member Marston moved to approve the contract for the Nance site and to forward it to the full board; the motion was seconded and passed (the record shows an abstention by one committee member). A later motion to approve and forward the Long-site buyout was approved under the same terms.
Vote tallies recorded on the audio record show a majority in favor with one abstention on each motion; committee leadership said the full board will decide which payment option (lump sum or multi-year) to accept.
The committee's action authorizes staff to present the buyout contracts and recommendation to the full school board for final approval rather than executing a buyout at the committee level.
Next steps: the committee will send the approved recommendation and materials to the full board for a final decision on which buyout option to accept.
