Construction of cell tower underway at Winchester lagoon
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By DAVID CAMPHOUSE
Workers with Mid American Drilling Corporation began working on the construction of a new cellular telephone network tower at Winchester’s Lagoon last week.
According to Winchester Mayor Rex McIntire, placement of the new tower was designed to be unobtrusive and out of the way of city activities.
“It’s placed at the sewage lagoon, right when go in the gate,” McIntire said. “It shouldn’t be a problem for anybody. It’s a good location for it.”
McIntire said the owner of the cell tower is renting a quarter acre plot of land to accommodate the cell tower. Initial rent is $500 per month for the first five years of the lease.
“It’s not a big site,” McIntire said. “It’s good money for something that’s not going to impede us from doing anything we need to do.”
The city, McIntire indicated, has the option to extend the lease after five years, with the rent to increase by 10 percent upon each renewal.
“The lease is a minimum of five years, with an option to renew,” McIntire said.
The initial work performed by Mid American Drilling Corporation last week was to pour concrete and set rebar for the tower’s base. The supporting concrete footing under the tower is eight feet wide and 32 feet deep.
“It’s a healthy chunk of concrete and, of course, rebar,” McIntire said.
According to McIntire, the cell tower, which he anticipates will improve cellular telephone service in the area, should be up and running in the next month or so.
“They’re talking like they’d have it online by sometime in November,” McIntire said.