Most municipalities have difficulty coming to a consensus regarding communications towers, but one city council managed to vote unanimously to reject and approve a proposed cell tower in one meeting. At Canyon City’s October 11 city council meeting, members debated granting a conditional use permit for a 195-foot U.S. Cellular cell tower at 10th Street and Hall Avenue. Verizon Wireless and AT&T already operate in the city.
According to the Blue Mountain Eagle, the council members voted unanimously against the tower, claiming constituents were concerned about aesthetics and its proximity to a school. Within minutes, members had adjusted their viewpoint. Frank Primozic shared the evolving sentiments of his fellow council members, “We would love to have the tower. It’s just the location they picked couldn’t be worse from an aesthetic standpoint.” A final vote unanimously approved construction of the tower if it can be sited closer to the city’s industrial park, rather than residential neighborhoods.
During the same meeting, Canyon City officials postponed a vote to join the Grant County Digital Network Coalition. The coalition was created after neighboring city, John Day, received a $1.82 million grant from the state to install a 75-mile, 144-strand fiber cable on power poles from Burns to John Day. The fiber is intended to improve broadband internet service in the county. John Day City Manager, Nick Green, explained the region’s county would slow down without current technologies. He told the council his goal was to improve internet service for the entire county. “My goal is to take the county from the second worst to the second best (in the state).”
October 19, 2017
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