New communications tower approved

The planning commission approved a conditional use permit for Verizon Wireless to construct a 184 foot communication tower at 11720 Road 18, east of Interstate 80 to improve Verizon’s services there. The decision was made on Monday night.

“The reason it’s conditional, just because it’s allowed on a certain parcel, there might be mitigating circumstances that you have to take into account from surrounding property owners or whatever that may have concerns,” said city manager Gary Person.

Jeff Skinner, a representative for Verizon, informed the commission about plans for the tower, which is designed to hold two possible additional carriers in the future. The area in which the tower is planned is growing, so the company wishes to improve service there.

“They know that their capacity can’t handle all the traffic out there, so this is to alleviate that issue,” Skinner said.

There is another tower in that area which belongs to Viaero Wireless, a Colorado-based carrier. Viaero was not interested in allowing Verizon to share its tower.

Commission member Jonathon Mueller wondered if surrounding property owners had any concerns and Person answered that the city had not heard any. Every adjacent property owner was notified by the city about the change.

The tower itself is 175 feet with a 9 foot lightening rod. Verizon will be leasing the property and the lease would go with the land, if it is sold. The commission approved the conditional use permit, to run with the terms of the 25 year lease, which will be renewed in five year increments.