More than 50 people showed up for a community meeting Tuesday night to address concerns about the potential construction of cell phone towers in Lane County.
County Commissioner Peter Sorenson, District 3, and City Councilor Betty Taylor, Ward 2, community activists and local residents met in Harris Hall last night to share information about cell phone transmission towers planned to be constructed in various areas of the city. The towers range from 30-foot “mini” towers to 200-foot multiple-transmission centers, one of which would be located close to campus near 15th Avenue and Villard Street.
“The wireless industry insists their technology is safe — but we really don’t know. The jury is still out at this point,” said Martha Johnson, a member of the River Road Community Organization.
Several issues were brought up by attendees, including the potential hazards posed by emitted radiation and the location of tower sites. “It’s an accident looking for a place to happen,” said Donna Murray, a member of Citizens for Responsible Placement of Cell Phone Transmission Towers. She referred to an incident in the Midwest where a resident climbed up the tower and jumped off to commit suicide.
“How many towers do we have to put up before someone says ‘no more’?” said resident Karl Wagenknecht, whose office is two buildings down from a proposed tower site at 15th and Villard. The site is located on Williams Bakery property.
“A landowner has the right to refuse to lease the property, but the money is tempting,” Taylor said.
Attendees were also concerned over perceived siting problems. “I’ve read through countless applications. … They all say, ‘This is the perfect site; this is the only site,’” said event organizer Mona Linstromberg.
“The telecommunications industry can break their lease contract at any time — the landowner cannot,” she added.
Participants discussed the county and city perspectives on the issue. Sorenson said that a proposed county ordinance would only govern the construction of towers in unincorporated areas of Lane County. Taylor suggested the ordinance’s jurisdiction be extended to include incorporated cities.
“I would prefer to have the county deal with it,” Taylor said.
Activists are currently pressing for a moratorium on the issue, which would stop the construction of proposed towers until an ordinance could be passed. County commissioners were split 2-2 on a vote earlier this year on whether to declare a moratorium, according to Sorenson.