Hampshire County Board approves nonbinding letter of interest to Milestone Towers amid safety questions

The Hampshire County Board of Education voted June 25 to authorize a nonbinding letter of interest to Milestone Towers, allowing the Virginia‑based company to develop formal proposals for cellular towers on school property.

Board members were presented with Milestone’s partnership model, in which the company finances, constructs and manages a roughly 50‑by‑50‑foot site and then markets space to carriers. A district staff member said Milestone anticipates the district’s share would be about $15,000 per tower per year under current projections and that leases would run across multi‑decade timelines.

The vote authorizes only the district to send a letter of interest so Milestone can prepare site‑specific proposals; any actual design, lease or construction would return to the board for approvals. ‘‘We’re not agreeing to put a tower up tonight. We’re agreeing to listen to a proposal once they generate it,’’ the presenting staff member said.

Board members pressed staff on health and community concerns. The presenter noted conflicting studies and said the American Cancer Society’s materials were used as a middle‑of‑the‑road reference during an initial review; the presenter reiterated that typical measured radiofrequency emissions from these sites are expected to be below recommended limits but urged further research by the board. One board member recounted a school emergency drill in which radio and cell coverage problems hindered communications and said improved coverage could aid first responders.

Board members also discussed siting. Staff identified tentative locations including Caiten Bridge, Romney Middle and Hampshire Senior High but said proximity and local geography could reduce the practical number of towers. Staff proposed alternative sites (including Slainesville) to meet recommended separation distances from school buildings and to reduce community impacts.

The board and staff emphasized the nonbinding nature of the letter. Under Milestone’s model, staff said, Milestone would use its capital for zoning and construction and would not request district funding; the board would retain final approval of any lease. Staff recommended the district direct Milestone to produce site plans and proposals and return those documents for staff review and a future board vote.

Next steps: staff will collect additional research on health guidance and siting, and Milestone will be asked to provide formal proposals for the board’s consideration. No lease, design approval or construction will proceed without subsequent board action.