UPDATE Although plans are in the works for the Gunnison Watershed School District to erect two cell towers, their final location is still up for debate. The subject provided a hot topic at the latest school board meeting held Monday night, according to the Crested Butte News. Anticipating a lengthy discussion, board member Tyler Martineau noted that the board had a number of topics to review and, “There have to be some limits on that so that we can get our business done.” It was agreed that cell tower concerns would be limited to 45 minutes.
The school district and Verizon are currently engaged in an uneasy partnership. The parties agree that better cell service is needed in the area, but the proposed location of the towers on two separate school properties keeps the project stalled as talks continue.
The current contract allows Verizon the option to relocate the towers, or end the agreement, but does not allow much flexibility to the school district, reported the Crested Butte News. The agreement with Verizon was reached in 2017, when board members may have been swayed by the promise of the money the school district would earn by hosting the towers, speculated Martineau.
Alternative locations have been suggested, including a suggestion from the Gunnison County Electrical Association that their property should be considered. However, the choice of location is up to Verizon. Crested Butte Town Manager Dara MacDonald said, “Given the community concerns we would like to offer again that Verizon consider some of the town’s properties to see if one of those locations would provide comparable service for the community as well as the school buildings. And Gunnison County Electrical Association has also reached out to us to discuss their site at the substation outside of Crested Butte. I do hope that Verizon will willingly consider some of these alternatives as a show of good faith in the community that they want to be expanding their services within. To facilitate that, I hope the school board and staff will continue to encourage your contacts at Verizon to consider these alternative sites.”
Upon reviewing the contract with a lawyer, School Superintendent Leslie Nichols explained, “It’s unlikely that Verizon would release the district from this contract, but really probably the best hope for change, should the district decide to pursue that, would be more nuanced and collaborative with Verizon. Because we can’t say to them, ‘You’re not welcome here anymore.'”
February 15, 2019
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