by Clover Quinn, Hamilton
On Wednesday, June 3rd, the County Commissioners heard comments from concerned citizens regarding the proposed 180 foot cell tower to be erected in the Bitterroot Valley.
Major points at the County Commissioners’ meeting:
• This cell tower would be west of Hamilton, on Downing Mountain, in the Black Bear Lane/Owings Creek area. Concern was only for those residents within 300 feet of the proposed tower.
• Cell towers pose a danger of cell tower fires. An installer of cell towers over the past twenty years or so showed slides of half a dozen all-consuming tower-fires.
• The base for the 180’ cell tower (equivalent to a 12-story building in height) would be monstrous, would require massive destruction of the rocky mountainside (how to dig down possibly 12 feet and 20 feet wide—or more) to pour concrete for the base; enormous truck/trailer combinations hauling in enormous machinery, destruction of the canopy over the roadway, and severe destruction of the road. The company offered $10,000 for road repairs.
• Reports detailing number of trees dying near cell towers, with fewer tree deaths the further one goes away from the tower.
• The same for bee populations; almost non-existent near the towers, increasing to healthier numbers the further you go away from the towers.
• Human health concerns: sleep deprivation, headaches, brain fog (albeit subjective symptoms) for residents living close to towers, with improved health when further away from towers.
• Property devaluation for the above reasons, as well as the aesthetic damage.
• Although this tower (proposed by Vertical Bridges, for T-Mobile) would have “monopine” camouflage to make it appear like an evergreen, it would tower above the forest canopy which is predominately 75-95 feet. And the tower could have a 20’ height extension, if determined it was needed. (During the public comment period, the woman proposing the plan for the “applicant” texted them and they agreed not to consider the 20’ extension of height.)
• This tower would provide access for four cell service providers (at this time).
• Residents cannot at this time obtain fire insurance. Can the tower obtain fire insurance? And if so, does that insurance cover the houses lost to fire if the tower is the cause of a forest fire? Does the tower remain a charred and useless skeletal structure if ravaged by a forest fire?
Commissioners clarified that their job is to adhere to the law. In this case, their judgment is to be based upon two criteria: co-location and unique hardship. Co-location means investigating other sites which might perhaps be less problematic and more satisfactory for the tower…two of which were the rifle range and the base of Blodgett Canyon. “Unique” implies pertaining to one. Hardships with regard to this proposed tower are not unique to one individual, but to a great number of residents…and the residents of the Bitterroot Valley in toto.
Please continue to submit public comments to the County Commissioners (https://ravalli.us/179/zoning).
Public comment has been extended to 5 PM on Friday, June 13. The final meeting, when the decision of the County Commissioners will be made, is scheduled for Wednesday, July 30, 1:30 PM.