The families of St. Mel’s Church, which is located at 154-24 26th Ave.,have been asking T-Mobile to remove its six cell phone antennas from the roof of the K-8 school. The contract is not expected to expire for several years, and the towers were placed on the roof top of the school from late 2005 - 2006 without parents being notified. The parents were unaware of how many towers actually were placed on the roof top until mid school year of 2006, there are 23 towers to date.
There have been many protests, petitions and complaints since last year with families actually removing their children from the school and the parents have received little to no response from the cell phone companies as to when the towers would be removed, if they would be at all.
"St. Mel’s gets $56,000 a year in rent for the antennas, with 80 percent of the income going to the local church and the rest going to the diocese. The parish council had originally approved the installation because of the added income it generated, but failed to tell the parents." Source: Zwire
There has been blatant disregard for the parents and for the school's well being from the cell phone companies. They are unconcerned that this could be detrimental to the St. Mel's Parish. If parents remove their kids from the school, there will not be means to operate. T-Mobile is wrong for not removing the towers and finding a new spot to house the antennas. The parents have made it known, loud and clear that the towers are not welcomed at the school.
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