Aldermen’s Opposition of Antennas Does Not Hold Water

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St. Charles (IL) officials are contemplating whether to allow the installation of wireless antennas on an existing water tower to improve cell phone service, reported the Daily Herald.  According to Environmental Services Manager Tim Wilson, partnering with a wireless carrier could generate an estimated $30,000 to $60,000 in annual lease income for the city, depending on the number of antennas installed.

During a government services committee meeting, some aldermen expressed concerns over how the antennas would look on the 1.5 million-gallon water tank that took years of planning and design work.

“As much as I like the income, I’m not in favor of putting anything on this tower,” Alderman Ron Silkaitis said.

St. Charles already has existing contracts with T-Mobile on two other water towers, each of which brings in more than $30,000 a year, Wilson said.  

Of the antennas, Alderman William Turner said, “They’re just a fact of life. Every tower’s got them, and I don’t see why we should be the exception. I think it’s actually in the best interest of our residents to have a better coverage area.”

Should the city decide to move forward, its next steps would be to put out a request for proposals to wireless companies; however, officials first want to seek input from nearby residents, reported the Herald.  Comments? Email Us.

February 28, 2019

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