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WANAQUE - High school may add more bars
(by Teresa Edmond - Staff Writer - October 02, 2008)
WANAQUE - After learning that a spot on Lakeland Regional High School's (LRHS) grounds may be a suitable place to build a wireless antenna without posing health risks to the school community, officials are further investigating the opportunity to bring in extra income.
Terry Booker, managing partner with Axis Partners of Philadelphia, first brought the cellular antenna idea to the school board’s attention late last year. Booker said that a wireless carrier — to be named later — would pay the school to build its antenna on the property.
If the antenna plan comes to fruition, the high school could reap $3,000 to $5,000 monthly from the first wireless carrier and then stretch the plan out from there, LRHS Superintendent Albert Guazzo said recently.
Upon first hearing that proposal, school board members were concerned that a wireless antenna might yield health problems for the school community.
However, school officials revealed at the Sept. 23 LRHS Board of Education meeting that they might have warmed up to the wireless antenna after an investigation found that there’s a likely safe spot for the wireless antenna. The antenna could be on school property while also being conveniently out of the way on a rocky point next to the high school and behind a Quick Chek store on Ringwood Avenue.
Earl Axelrod, school board member from Ringwood, had expressed his concern about the health risks a wireless antenna on school grounds could post, but since school officials are considering the location behind Quick Chek safe, even he has warmed up to the proposal.
“With that kind of money (the school could make), it’s worth exploring,” Axelrod said.
Booker told Business Administrator Michael Leary that he found T-Mobile might be interested. School officials are to meet with T-Mobile and Booker later this week.
“They’re proposing a 117-foot pole to put on this piece of property,” Leary said. “(Axis Partners LLC) wants the school board to take the next step by getting approval from the town to have this work done.”
Guazzo said that borough officials could say "no" to LRHS officials about putting up the tower. He said before letting LRHS benefit from their own wireless antenna, borough officials might want to ensure they get as many wireless companies as possible taking full advantage of the borough’s two existing cellular towers.
“There may be a little head-butting locally on this issue,” Guazzo said.
John Griffin, school board trustee from Wanaque, expressed interest in joining the committee that would compile a feasibility study in erecting LRHS’ cell tower. Knowing the school board would have to work closely with the Board of Adjustment, Griffin could lend his expertise as a 1980s board member.
“A board of adjustments can’t veto anything for competitive reasons,” he said. “It has to be for impact to environment or to community.”
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