Cellular telephone service from Brookhaven to Caseyville maysoon begin pick up following Monday’s approval of a land lease fornew tower along Highway 550.

The Lincoln County School Board of Trustees Monday approved a50-year lease on five acres of district property for HCH Inc. tobuild a cellular tower west of the Allred Drive and Highway 550intersection. After some discussion, lease payments on the landwill begin at $450 a month.

Randy Bailey, representing HCH, said the company is buildingthree cell towers along Highway 550 from Brookhaven to Caseyvilleto expand coverage in the northwestern portion of the county.

Sixteenth Section Land Manager Stan Long recommended thedistrict accept HCH’s offer.

“This would give us some additional revenue we’re not used togetting,” he said.

The initial lease proposal included $400 a month on a five-yearlease. The contract would extend at five-year intervals with a 10percent increase in rent. The total life of the lease was set at 50years.

“That would be nearly $400,000 in revenue over the life of thelease,” Bailey said.

In addition, he said, the company will fence and gate the fiveacres and build an access road to the tower.

Lincoln County Superintendent Terry Brister said the request wasunexpected and the board was not familiar with the “going rate” ontower leases. He expressed concern that $400 a month might be a lowfigure.

Bailey assured the board that typical leases were granted for amonthly fee averaging $350 to $500. He also increased the company’soffer to $450 per month, which the board accepted.

Following the meeting, Bailey said he did not know when theexpanded service would become available, but crews would begin toconstruct the towers soon.