TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Some Rally Against Plan For A School Cell Tower

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 16, 2008

SOUTH TAMPA - Plans to erect a cell-phone tower at Coleman Middle School have parents and campus neighbors in a stir.

The 100-foot tower, which would be built by Tampa-based Collier Enterprises II, could be leased by up to four cell service carriers. Collier has offered to pay for construction and management, and evenly split rental profits with the school district. At about $11,250 per carrier annually, that's roughly $450,000 for the school district during the 10-year lease, with Coleman keeping about 80 percent.

A community meeting is planned for Jan. 7.

Coleman Principal Michael Hoskinson said he has received both positive and negative comments, and wants to explore the idea fully before making a decision.

The opportunity for dependable funding in a tight economy has some parents in favor. The possibility of decreased property values and feared negative effects on health give others pause to the point they actively are opposing the move.

Jamie Pilarczyk Airport Traffic On Move Again

TAMPA - Plenty of drivers will need to alter their morning commute starting today.

Transportation officials are planning to relocate the Spruce Street exit from the left side of State Road 60 back to the right at 5:30 a.m.

The last time the exit was moved, in September, morning commuters were caught in a massive traffic jam. Department of Transportation officials are hoping to avoid a similar occurrence and have posted signs for more than a week to prepare motorists.

The exit, which is just before the exit to Tampa International Airport, will carry motorists across S.R. 60 to the east side of Spruce.

Rich Shopes

Board Anticipates More Cash Woes
LAND O' LAKES - Pasco County School Board members will deal with more than just their current $8.7 million shortfall when they meet today in a budget workshop to review the district's financial woes.

The board also will be bracing for a 2009-10 budget year that's expected to be even worse than the current one.

The budget workshop will be at 4 p.m. in the TV studio in building No. 3 at the district administrative offices, 7227 Land O' Lakes Blvd.

A regular school board meeting will follow at 6 p.m. in the board meeting room in the same building.

Ronnie Blair

Shop Collects Toys For Children

TEMPLE TERRACE - Victorian Village owners want to make sure every child living in the city has a visit from Santa Claus this year.

The gifts and collectibles shop at 6870 E. Fowler Ave. is collecting donated toys and other wish list items from the area's underprivileged schoolchildren who earlier this year penned their requests in "Dear Santa" letters.

The effort is being conducted on behalf of the Sincerely Santa program, a program that since its inception in 1987 has provided toys, clothing and other items for more than 100,000 at-risk children in the Tampa Bay area.

Officers from the Temple Terrace Police Department will pick up and deliver the gifts in time for Christmas, a tradition they started several years ago.

The deadline to deliver gifts to the store is Wednesday.

For information, call (813) 989-0908.

Joyce McKenzie

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT