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Webster officials agree to regulate cell phone towers within town limits
By Justin Goble
Webster leaders Oct. 4 unanimously approved a resolution that will allow Jackson County officials to oversee construction of telecommunication towers and wireless facilities within the town’s limits.
The action came after a discussion with Rusty Monroe of SBA Networks, a company that negotiates site acquisition and acts as a go-between for municipalities and cell-phone companies.
Monroe addressed Webster’s board at the request of Mayor Steve Gray, who said he had received word from Verizon Wireless that the company is looking to place a tower “somewhere near Southwestern Community College.”
“We provide the expert assistance towns and counties need when looking at these contracts (with cell phone companies) but don’t have,” Monroe said.
“We try to minimize the ‘sight’ issues (visual impact),” Monroe said. “Do they really need a tower, or can they use something else? If they need a tower, how tall does it really need to be? There are a number of opportunities for co-location, where the cell company can attach something to a nearby building to provide cell phone service. They can disguise it and no one can tell it’s there.”
Since Webster doesn’t have an ordinance regulating cell towers, officials asked what they should do if Verizon follows through with a request to locate a tower near SCC.
Webster Postmaster Mark Jamison said the county had passed an ordinance regulating the construction, placement and maintenance of cell phone towers in 2002.
As part of that ordinance, municipalities can ask county officials to enforce those regulations within their limits.
“The ordinance is already in place, and they have a full-time staff that can enforce it,” Jamison said.
Monroe agreed, saying his company has worked with the county in the past.
“If Jackson County has the authority to handle it, I don’t see any need to reinvent the wheel,” Monroe said.
Should Verizon decide to build a tower in Webster, Monroe said he would consult with the phone company on the town’s behalf. SBA would make suggestions on things like site selection and construction guidelines, he said.
Those services would not cost the town anything, because the cell company will make a deposit to the town once a contract is signed. SBA will then invoice its services to town officials, who will pay for them with the money from Verizon.
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