Cobb school board approves cell tower despite heavy opposition

By Mary Lou Pickel

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Cobb County School Board members approved a cellphone tower for Eastvalley Elementary School despite heavy protest Thursday night.

A roomful of residents, carrying signs, showed up at the board meeting to oppose the tower. Most say they are concerned about health risks to students and the negative effect the tower could have on property values.

The board split its vote 4-2, with board members John Crooks, Holli Cash, Lynnda Crowder-Eagle and board chairman John Abraham voting in favor; board members David Morgan and Alison Bartlett voting against, and David Banks abstaining.

"It was a sham," said Rick Welkis, a parent of a student at Eastvalley who opposes the tower. The board did not discuss the issue at the meeting, but put it on the consent calendar.

"We're going to continue with the legal process," said Welkis, who has sued the school board over the issue. "They are slapping the community in the face and saying, ‘We don't care what you say, we are going to do what we want,'" Welkis said.

The board had approved the 150-foot tower at its July 23 meeting, but Welkis and others sued saying the board had added the item to the agenda at the last minute, violating open meetings law.

Cobb County Superior Court Senior Judge Michael Stoddard backed the residents and placed a 30-day injunction on the tower.

The board signed a contract with T-Mobile last month that will give the school board about $450,000 over a 15-year period for the tower.

The county has 25 towers located at 19 schools generating between $500,000 and $600,000 per year, school board spokesman Jay Dillon said.