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Updated at: 11/16/2009 11:33 AM Debate Over Proposed Cell Phone TowerA proposed cell phone tower in the city of Proctor is stirring up debate. Neighbors say it's an eyesore and a health risk. The city counters however, that not only will it be a source of income for the city, residents too will benefit. "There's wildlife in the area, and we have a nice large yard," said Betylu Denzler, a Proctor resident who has lived on her home behind the city's water tower, for the past 20 years.. "It's just beautiful up here." Denzler says it's been everything she could want. She says however, there's just one very large problem: "When I look out from any window in the back of my house, I don't see the landscaping," Denzler said. "I see the towers." Because the land where the city's water tower sits is the high point in town, the city has been leasing pieces of it to companies such as Verizon and Alternative Communications. That way, they're able to put towers on it that would broad-reaching signals. AT&T is a co-locator on one of the towers, but because of a move to the 3G Network, the company needs to expand. "We were in favor of AT&T coming here," said City Administrator Jim Rohweder. "We get some money for the space that they lease to have the tower here, and our citizens benefit from the better cell phone coverage." But not everyone sees it as a positive. "They're adding more and more and more and how much is enough?" said Denzler. According to Rohweder, it wasn't until talk of a third tower going up, when several neighbors like Denzler got concerned. And not just because they're eyesores-- Denzler says they fear exposure to this much radio frequency could be a health risk. "They're saying that it's safe, but we don't know for sure and that's concerning," Denzler said. The FCC says there is no danger because the towers are highly regulated. Still, Rohweder says, they have agreed to work with residents. The city council has postponed decisions related to the tower, and agreed to search instead for a company to study potential risks. But it is because of that delay, Rohweder says-- the plan could be changing. "I received an e-mail this past week saying they were thinking about going back to their original plan being a co-locator on a refurbished tower," Rohweder said. It would mean the spot on Lavaque Road would remain with two cell towers rather than three. But for neighbors like Denzler, that doesn't lift the need for a study. "I would like a test done either way," Denzler said. "Just so we know in writing that it's safe to live here." The city council will take up the issue during their regular meeting Monday night. Rohweder says, it is unclear at this point whether they'll make any decisions, related to the cell tower |
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