As the Cook County Planning Commission gets closer to considering a request for a cell phone tower in Tofte, some residents are voicing concerns.
On September 13, 2012, County Commissioner Bruce Martinson reported to the Tofte Township Board that Planning & Zoning Administrator Bill Lane had received five letters opposing the cell phone tower proposed for Tofte on property the Futterer family is selling to the township.
Supervisor Paul James said some objections might be more about the height of the tower than about its existence in Tofte. The tower will be no more than 190 feet.
Resident Marsha Hansen expressed a concern that property values would go down for residences near the tower. “It’s not fair to have your property suddenly go down in value because of a tower.” Her husband Gary said that having a tower built near a home would be like having an airport built in the back yard. Supervisor King said a tower might be considered an asset to many people considering moving here.
Gary Hansen said he objected to the sight of a tower in Tofte. Supervisor James said cell towers must have no obstructions between them in order to work. Signals from the proposed tower would reach towers in both Lutsen and Schroeder. A less conspicuous “stealth” tower was considered originally, but it would not be as tall, would likely allow fewer users to share a high position where reception is best, and would not be as profitable. The current location is the only functional location they have been able to find, James said.
Jerry Gervais said cell phone coverage is a safety issue. Rescue Chief Louise Trachta said the fire and rescue departments would greatly benefit from a tall tower. “There’s a void in back [inland] that needs to be taken care of,” she said. “It’s needed.”
Gary Hansen said he was not opposed to the existence of a tower but was opposed to its size and location.
“The problem is, wherever it goes, it has to affect somebody,” said Supervisor James. It will benefit everyone, however. “We’re listening to you,” he said. He pointed out that one county commissioner and two members of the planning commission— D.C. Olsen and Jerry Gervais—were in the room.
Supervisor James said numerous public meetings discussing this issue had been held over the course of time. “I wish that we had had these discussions a year ago,” he said, “but we didn’t, and that brings us to where we are today.”
The Cook County Planning Commission will review conditional use permit and variance applications for the tower at its November meeting. James said the Planning & Zoning Department is taking comments from the public right now. The Planning Commission could decide the public good outweighs the desires of a few residents, could turn the project down, or could require modifications to the plan, such as lowering the height of the tower.
Verizon Wireless is planning to put up the tower but would allow other companies to locate equipment on it as well. AT&T will do the same with the tower it plans to put up in Taconite Harbor. Paving Caribou Trail
Commissioner Martinson noted that County Engineer David Betts talked to the county board about transferring some funding intended for reconstruction work on the Gunflint Trail to pave the Sawbill Trail instead. They discussed paving it from its south end up to where it meets The Grade.
The Gunflint Trail funding would prohibit any changes to the road, and Engineer Betts would rather transfer the funding to another road because he believes the Gunflint Trail needs some changes to improve safety.
The funding would allow work to begin in 2014.
The Sawbill Trail was left gravel because people thought it would create “a buffer,” Supervisor James said. The gravel has not slowed anybody down, he said. “All it’s done is create a washboard and 20 miles that you can hardly drive on.”
The road would be safer and a lot more enjoyable for locals to drive on if it were paved, he said. It’s so bad now, he said, that after driving on it “you just about have to go to the dentist and get new fillings.”
“It should have been done 20 years ago,” said John Nelson.
James polled the people in the room— the supervisors, township clerk, township treasurer, and residents in attendance— and all were in favor of paving the Sawbill. Treasurer Mary Jane Huggins said she originally supported keeping the road gravel but would now support paving it. Fourth of July expenses
The board voted to help Birch Grove Foundation and Birch Grove Community School with expenses related to putting on the 2012 4th of July festivities. This is the first year they have taken responsibility for this event. Levy
The township’s levy request to the county will be $164,197. Highway speed signs
Clerk Barb Gervais agreed to send a letter to the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) asking where they were in the process of improving speed signs in Tofte in order to improve safety. She said she would also get quotes on speed readout signs that alert drivers to how fast they are driving.
MnDOT had agreed to install bigger signs with blaze orange signs attached to the same poles to increase their visibility and to move the 55 m.p.h. sign by Holiday to the west because a lot of accidents happen in front of Holiday where people are already accelerating at the end of the 40 m.p.h. zone.
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