Waldwick May 9, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 9 Waldwick is keeping its cell towers and their income all to itself. On the recommendation of Borough Administrator Gary Kratz, the borough council decided last week to turn down a $3 million offer to purchase the leases on the the town’s two cell towers for 30 years. “It’s more lucrative than the last offer we got, which was $2.6 million, but I still recommend against it,” Kratz said. Communication Capital Group of Georgia had offered to pay a lump sum of $3 million for the leases now in place on the two borough-owned towers. Under the present lease Council turns down bid for cell tower leases arrangement, the nine locators on the towers pay the borough a combined total of $320,000 a year. Therefore, the town will accrue the proposed purchase amount in just nine years if it retains ownership of the leases, Kratz said. Kratz said that the yearly income is now built into the budget, which is a more practical way to deal with budget planning and state caps. He explained that there is some exposure for the borough in that future changes in the industry may affect the present income. ATT and T-Mobile may merge, as may Sprint and Nextel, he said, thus resulting in a possible cancellation of some present leases when Waldwick’s borough engineer will be looking into the possibility of installing a sidewalk on the westerly side of Hopper Avenue between West Prospect and the municipal pool parking lot. The borough council last week authorized the work at the urging of Councilman Frank Palladino, who said the project should be costed out in time for possible inclusion in the 2013 capital budget and to seek grant opportunities. Borough Administrator Gary Kratz said that the town had previously applied for a Safe Schools grant but had not received it. At that time, he said, the cost had been estimated at $60,000, a great portion of it to move a utility pole located in the middle of the right of way. He said he could look to see if grant moneys are still available. “Let’s put it on the radar. Have the engineer assess what needs to be done and get the ball rolling irrespective of any grant moneys available,” Palladino said. “Let’s get our arms around it, and then look for a grant,” he added. “I’m willing to see how much it would cost, but nothing more. I am not committing to do the work,” said Councilman Andrew Brennecke. Kratz said about 300 feet of sidewalk would be needed Sidewalk eyed for Hopper Avenue they expire. But he said it’s also possible that the federal government may step in to stop the mergers to maintain healthy competition among cell carriers. “Who would have known in ’98, when we started with cell phones, the things that they would be used for,” Kratz said. He added that the greater risk now may be with satellite communications, in addition to the potential mergers. “There will be so many technological changes that the towers will still be needed in 10 years,” said Councilman Greg Bjork. The borough has five locators on the 150-foot tower at the leaf transfer facility behind Boston Market off Wyckoff Avenue: Sprint, Nextel, T-Mobile, ATT Singular and Metro PCS. The 125-ft. tower at the DPW garage has four locators: ATT Singular, Verizon, T-Mobile and Clearwire. to cover the area in question, and that current policy provides that the affected property owners pay for sidewalks through a special assessment. Councilman Greg Bjork asked if waivers are given, but Kratz said only if a sidewalk is already in place, unless a special arrangement is worked out with the residents. Palladino said the intent is to provide safety for students leaving through the back of the football field and walking to the pool parking lot, which serves as overflow parking for the school. He said the students now walk in the street, and that it is “not convenient nor logical” to expect them to use the sidewalk on the easterly side of Hopper. At a previous meeting the council discussed safety concerns at the Hopper/West Prospect intersection and decided to seek state Department of Transportation approval to post stop signs on all four corners of the intersection. The borough engineer is investigating whether the intersection meets the criteria for a four-way stop. Former Mayor Frank McKenna, speaking from the audience, warned that any sidewalk work done in that area would have to take into account the emergency access to the 14 townhouses on White’s Pond and underground PSE&G lines installed near where the sidewalks would go.