After several council meetings with no decisions made about where to build a 300-foot cell tower that will bring the town $1,500 a month in revenue, the Century Town Council Monday night approved an 80-foot square access area at the southeast corner of Anthony Pleasant Park.
Several locations for the 4G tower have been discussed and some eliminated because council members said some citizens had expressed to them concern that the locations were too close to residents' homes or would be an eyesore in the town.
Council members considered the northeast corner of the town's maintenance building on Alger Road and .698 acres at 7931 Century Boulevard near Century Library, as well as a new possible location at the southeast corner of Anthony Pleasant Park.
The Anthony Pleasant Park spot became a possible location after Century Mayor Ben Boutwell and Century Interim City Manager Vernon Prather drove to the sight and determined it met the requirements of clearance from other structures, wetlands and the wood line.
Boutwell has coached for years and said he started thinking about the park.
“On the very south end of Anthony Pleasant there's an old softball field that's never used,” said Boutwell. “It's a full size 280-foot softball field. We could always move the fence in and still have room for practice or play.”
Boutwell said once he suggested it to Prather and the two had a look at the property, it became a real possibility. He said the next day, the engineer came and determined it met all requirements so it was put on the agenda for consideration Monday night.
“We need to progress, we need this process for our town, our business, for our children,” said Boutwell. “The town needs to move forward with Information Technology. I think it's a great location. It's centered in the town, so the signal should be good throughout the town's city limits.”
Prather told council members he was not aware the park spot was viable until he spoke with Boutwell.
The town will make $18,000 a year once the tower is built, with a 2 percent CPI (Consumer Price Index) increase annually, and the term lease is five years and $250 monthly for each additional cellular provider if it is sub-leased, according to the terms of the contract.
The tower will have a dedicated antennae for first responders, 4G until 5G comes to rural areas in the future, and broadband capabilities, according to the At&T representative.
“We need a tower,”said Mayor Boutwell. “It may be a year before it is built, but at least it is on contract. It's not only good for the citizens of the town, but for the children too. It can be used as a 'hotspot' for kids to use the internet to do homework.”
In a motion made by Councilman Sandra McMurray Jackson and seconded, the motion carried unanimously.
