An aerial view of the cellphone tower and equipment blocking the completion of the grandstand at Green Bay West High School's renovated stadium. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — It appears progress is being made in moving a cellphone tower which has prevented stadium construction from being completed as designed at Green Bay West High School.
The cost of moving the cellphone tower would be at least $1 million, according to the Green Bay Area Public School District. Who could potentially take on that cost is still being negotiated, according to Green Bay Parks Director Dan Ditscheit.
The school district leases the land the stadium sits on from the city.
Even though the cellphone tower is keeping the $9 million stadium renovation from being completed as designed, the first football game is still expected to be played on the stadium’s new turf field on September 20.
There are 12 cellphone towers on city property throughout Green Bay, according to city officials. A lease for the one at West was signed 23 years ago and runs until 2038.
“One of the reasons we selected the locations for those cell towers is it could double up as sports lighting,” said Ditscheit. “You can look at it as though there’s an obstacle in the way. You can also look at it as though hey it’s less money we have to spend on installing a sports light pole because we have a cell tower there and we can install the lighting on it.”
The city is currently receiving $53,709 a year in rent from Crown Castle, the company that owns the tower at West. The agreement includes a 25% increase every five years.
The cell tower company can renegotiate the terms if the tower is relocated, according to city officials.
Ditscheit says it’s likely both the city and school district will take a financial hit in relocating the tower, as the city could see revenue loss from the renegotiated lease.
“The school district has a lease with the city allowing them to use that property for the stadium at West High,” said Ditscheit. “Per the terms of the lease agreement that they have with the city, they are required to pay for all improvements to the facility as it relates to renovations to the field. That is what their lease clearly states.”
The question becomes who will cover the revenue loss. There is hope the city council will have a proposal to vote on within the next few weeks.
The district says it isn’t willing to use taxpayer dollars to recoup the revenue loss.
“Not having control of the negotiations with the city and the cell tower, we have to move forward with the best option for our students,” said Cale Pulczinski, the chief operating officer for Green Bay Public Schools.
The district has been exploring temporary seating that would provide as minimal impact on the stadium’s planned capacity of about 2,000 people. It’s unclear whether that is still being considered in light of the optimism the city has in reaching a deal that satisfies everyone, but the district has wanted to leave the door open to finishing the grandstand as originally designed.
69% of voters approved a 2022 referendum that included the West stadium renovation.
The field and track were widened to accommodate soccer and postseason contests, which is how the tower’s location became an issue.
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