Should Ames Schools Allow Cell Tower on Ames Middle School Site?

The Ames Community School Board will soon be discussing whether to allow a cell phone tower on the Ames Middle School site.

Gerry Peters, Ames School District's facilities planning and management director, said he's been contacted by a company that wants to build a Verizon cell phone tower on the eastern edge of the current Middle School site and would probably lease the space for about $1,000 a month.

Peters said the tower would be built east of the soccer fields near an access road and wouldn't interfere with any future development plans.

The district currently leases space for a cell phone tower behind the Ames High School.

At the time the tower was constructed, Superintendent Tim Taylor said, some people protested the location fearing that the tower would “microwave” children.

The board will discuss the matter further at a school board meeting on May 20.

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