City’s water towers keep cell calls flowing

Next time you get clear reception on your cellphone, thank your local water tower.

The city of Spokane leases space on its water tanks to almost every major telecommunications company: AT&T, Cricket, Qwest, T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon. There are 37 installations on city properties, primarily water towers, but the parks and wastewater management departments get in on the deal as well.

Historically, the $600,000 raised every year by leasing the space on the water towers had gone to the city’s water department. But last year the city decided the funds weren’t directly related to water’s operations, so it shifted the money to its asset management department.

“Cell tower revenues have been going to the water department, because most of them have been on water sites, like reservoirs,” said Marlene Feist, a spokesman with the city. “Because it’s really not a utility function, we looked at asset management to manage it … like bus benches.”

Last week, however, after a year of discussion within the city’s legal, finance, utilities and asset management departments, the city reversed course and transferred the funds back to the water department, because “it was decided that the cell tower revenues were most appropriately accounted for as a revenue of the Water Enterprise Fund,” according to internal briefing paper on the subject.

The financial move left asset management with a $600,000 hole in its budget, and last week the City Council moved money from the city’s general fund to make up the difference.

The shuffling was approved, but the delay didn’t sit well with everyone.

“It’s disappointing we didn’t find this out sooner,” said Councilwoman Candace Mumm, who chairs the city’s Planning, Community and Economic Development committee. “But I think it’s wonderful we can co-locate (facilities on) the towers.”

As Mumm suggested, many of the towers have equipment from more than one company, which Mumm described as “the cellphone companies working together to minimize the visual impact.”

Of course, water towers aren’t generally considered pleasing to the eye, and a little telecommunications equipment won’t distract much from the view.

One exception is the art deco-style tower near Sacajawea Middle School. The 130-foot tall octagonal tower holds 1.25 million gallons of water and is a sight to behold – telecommunications antennas and all.