NEWTON COUNTY — College students and workers at Alcovy Excessive Faculty could quickly be saved from their poor cell service woes.
The Newton County Board of Commissioners (BOC) unanimously authorised a conditional use allow that can permit the development of a brand new cell tower. The T-Cell monopole tower, to be constructed by APC Towers, can be situated off Freeway 36 subsequent to Alcovy Excessive Faculty.
Shena Applewhaite, Newton County’s director of improvement providers, introduced the conditional use allow request to the board at their common assembly on July 1. Within the presentation, she highlighted the necessities the corporate is planning to observe with the development of the tower.
The tower is not going to exceed 199 ft tall – even with the lightning rod – and would be the required 199 ft away from all property boundary strains. The proposal additionally features a panorama buffer of evergreen timber and/or shrubs that can encompass the fence compound.
Kimley Horn engineer Drew Pitz spoke in favor of the tower on the assembly on behalf of APC Towers.
“We meet all elements of the ordinance, meet or exceed,” Pitz stated.
Brian Coates, who works because the director of bands at Alcovy Excessive Faculty, expressed his robust want for the tower. Coates cited cases the place the poor cell service on the college has been greater than a passing inconvenience
“There have been a number of emergencies which have taken place the place we now have not been capable of make telephone calls,” Coates stated. “So I strongly encourage you all to contemplate passing this for the protection and safety of those who attend that faculty.”
Commissioners sympathized with Coates, agreeing that cell service at Alcovy Excessive has been a problem needing to be addressed for fairly a while.
“One of the talked about points that I’ve been approached with through the years has been the cell service,” District 1 Commissioner Stan Edwards stated. “Sarcastically, one thing we don’t management till a problem like this comes earlier than us for a vote.”
District 2 Commissioner Demond Mason added he’s acquainted with the spotty cell protection at Alcovy Excessive from when he mentored a pupil there.
“I believe this is able to be nice for this space, and it’s a lot wanted,” Mason stated. “And so I simply wished to say I’m in full assist of this as nicely.”
In the end, the movement to approve the allow was made by Edwards, as the world is in District 1, and seconded by Mason for a 5-0 vote.
