A Verizon monopole in Gardnerville directly across from Lampe Park.
Photo by Kurt Hildebrand.
Douglas County School Board members denied a proposal to locate a cell tower next to the Douglas High School football field during the board meeting on March 20.
Trustee David Burns made a motion to deny the proposal for the cell tower on or near school district property with the option to revisit the decision if new information becomes available. The motion passed with Trustees Erinn Miller, Markus Zinke, and President Yvonne Wagstaff abstaining due to concerns about student safety and the lack of sufficient data.
During the meeting Verizon Wireless presented by Chris Hatch, Yvonne Pinno, and Oku Solutions CEO David Witowski, highlighted the need to address a significant gap in cell service coverage around the East Minden area of highways 395 and 88.
The item was in response to a suggestion by Douglas County Commissioners that the Douglas High School football stadium might be a feasible alternative for the Verizon cell phone tower site.
The tower would replace the 58-foot light pole structure currently at the football stadium with an 80-foot pole with the antennas above the lights.
“We’re not set on that location, but it would be a good spot for the tower,” said Hatch. “There are a number of planning and sighting issues that we have in Minden and public facilities like the high school and the fire station are preferred by the county. That’s why they pushed these limitations, and why we’re trying to develop these towers at locations that the county supports and that the community supports, so we can bring that coverage to the area.”
Trustees Katherine Dickerson, Susan Jansen, and Burns objected the idea, citing too many unknowns as to how the proximity to the tower could affect the health and safety of students and staff.
“What I’m saying is it doesn’t have to be on Douglas High School property,” said Dickerson. “Let’s err to the side of caution here, that’s all I’m saying.”
Miller, Wagstaff, Melinda Gneiting, and Zinke pointed out that cell phone coverage at the high school and the intersection of Highway 88 and 395 is spotty connection and expressed concern about communication disruption between parents and students during emergencies.
Douglas County Commission Chairwoman Sharla Hales told trustees the county is under legal obligation to allow the utility to build a tower, they can’t say no to every place that is presented, and it has to be within a certain radius so the towers will work and provide the correct coverage.
“While you can say no, the county cannot,” said Hales. “We (are) under a legal obligation to allow a tower to be built to provide service and while you can consider health, we cannot consider health. The federal law prevents us from considering health considerations as we make a decision.”
Hales suggested the board wait and see what additional information brings forward and agreed with Burn’s suggestion of retrieving expert advice.
Other speakers agreed that more information is necessary from a third party and suggested that having a cell tower at Douglas High School is not part of the core mission of the school.
The matter goes before Douglas County commissioners on April 3.