Facilities Committee refers Brewer Drive utility easement to full board

The Facilities Committee of the Board of Education voted unanimously June 24 to forward a City of Monroe request to convey about 900 square feet of school property on Brewer Drive and grant a permanent utility easement to the full board for approval.

Mr. McManus, a staff member presenting the item, told the committee that the easement would allow the city to install “about a 50-ft pole with an antenna on top of it. They call it a DCU, a data collection unit pole … they’re changing out their meters, making them smarter, and it’s going to allow them to have real-time updates of what the meters are doing, gas and electric.” He said the easement would permit inspection, repair, improvements and alterations to the utility equipment and that the easement area is about 900 square feet.

Committee member Mr. Helms asked whether the new pole would be taller than existing poles; Mr. McManus said it would be “about the same height with the antenna on top.” After brief questions, a motion was made to send the request to the full board for approval and the committee voted 4-0 in favor.

The committee’s vote referred the easement request; it did not itself convey property. Mr. McManus’s presentation and the committee’s referral will appear on the full Board of Education agenda for final action, per procedural practice noted during the meeting.

Next steps: the full board will consider the easement at a subsequent meeting; no date was given during the Facilities Committee discussion.