The Campbell County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved two special use permits, for new, 165-foot and 199-foot telecommunications towers, reported The News & Advance. Both towers will provide expanded service from Shentel, an affiliate of Sprint.
The 165-foot tower will be located on a 10,000-square-foot area near William Campbell High School. The second tower, intended to accommodate additional capacity needs, will be located on property off Waterlick Road owned by Living Word Baptist Church.
Supervisors heard from several residents opposing the projects, including Mary Logwood, who said her husband’s heart doctor told the couple living near a cell tower could affect his defibrillator. “Please, please do not OK this tower in our neighborhood. Please don’t,” Longwood asked supervisors.
Shentel engineer Andrew Ivers noted that the amount of energy from the cell tower is “no more or less” than a restaurant with free WiFi.
Additionally, County Attorney Tripp Eisenhour advised supervisors of a federal statute that prohibits local officials from considering health concerns when approving or denying a permit once the FCC has determined a particular device is safe, reported The News & Advance.
July 9, 2018
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