About two months ago, a Verizon Wireless representative contacted the CHS Administration about installing a cellular pole at CHS. The 120-foot pole would be 75 by 75 feet and located north of the tennis courts towards Keystone.

According to Roger McMichael, assistant superintendent of business affairs, as Verizon Wireless gains more users of its service in an area, it needs more cell phone poles and towers to accommodate for that increase.

“Verizon identifies certain locations within a community, and they have certain specifications for those locations,” McMichael said. “It happens that the area around Carmel High School met those requirements.”

The lease is in five-year terms with $25,000 annual payment. The lease will increase 10 percent with each succeeding five-year term. However, an early termination clause allows the lease to end after 15 years, although McMichael said he doesn’t see this as likely.

He said, “Currently, we see no negative impact to the school district and would not anticipate any but since none of us can predict the future, we did want to have the ability to terminate the lease later.”

Although there is a general fear of radiation from radio towers, health agencies have not identified past towers or poles as dangerous to the public. This pole is actually more remote than many other towers in the area. Both McMichael and Principal John Williams said they do not foresee any inconveniences or downsides to leasing the property.

“If there was any concern,” Williams said, “we wouldn’t have it (put) up.”

Senior Brian McDonald said he agrees there are no health concerns due to the radio waves.

“Radio waves are completely harmless. They’re everywhere in much larger amounts than a cell phone tower emits anyway,” he said. “Any waves that are  visible light and below are fine.”

Both the school board and the city board of zoning appeals must approve the proposal. Once the proposal is passed, actual construction will most likely not begin until next year.

McDonald said he generally supports passing the lease.

“I don’t see any downsides to it, and I see that it can make money for the school,” he said.

Williams said, “I think (the pole) is a good community service, something that generates income during a time when we always need income to continue to do the things that we do.”