Mall calls

City considers building tower to increase cell capacity near the shopping area.

SOUTH PORTLAND — South Portland could soon enter the cell phone business.

The city is considering plans to build a 100-foot tower at the West End Fire Station off Western Avenue and rent space to as many as four companies at $2,000 per month each.

The tower is needed anyway, said Fire Chief Kevin Guimond, to facilitate the department’s new 800 MHz radios. A camera also will be mounted atop the tower to survey the area between the Jetport and the Maine Mall.

“That will be a really good tool for us,” said City Manager James Gailey. “Right now we have a camera atop the stack at National Semiconductor – now Texas Instruments – but with the steam that comes out of there, in the winter it tends to freeze up.”

Tower construction is expected to cost between $80,000 and $100,000. The tower would be placed behind the West End Station, with a 10-by-4-foot shed at the base for each cellular company.

By renting space on the tower, the city can recoup its investment “within three or four years,” according to Gailey. After that, said Gailey, revenue could be rolled into a reserve funds for fire trucks and rescue units.

“We’re going to be tapping that account pretty hard here,” said Gailey, intimating that new fire engines and a third ambulance might be needed soon, which would deplete the $600,000 account, prompting a need to replenish the account.

Guimond said he has fielded inquiries already from cell companies, while Gailey said radio frequency tests already have been made in the West End area. The tests “scored very well,” he said.

“From our understanding in talking to the cellular reps, it’s not new carriers that are needed,” said Gailey. “It’s capacity for the existing carries in the Jetport and mall area. There are just so many customers in that area in need of cell phone service.”

“Everyone’s got these smart phones now that use a ton of data,” said Guimond. “They need something in the mall area, so, somebody’s going to pop their head out of the hole and build one. So, here’s an opportunity for us.”

Gailey said if the council approves the idea at a future meeting, he expects to hire a management company to solicit cellular companies and manage the relationship with the city.

“Basically, they kick the bushes for you and get 15 percent,” said Guimond.

The issue will not be on the council’s Oct. 2 agenda, Gailey said. However, he hopes to have the project in motion by January, in order to make the 2012 budget for potential vendors.