Staff writer
A proposed cell phone tower, or a cell phone antenna mounted on a city water tower, drew yet another objection Monday.
The idea of installing a Verizon cell phone tower in the city has been argued over since March.
Marion school board members discussed the latest idea for a cell phone antenna — mounted on top of the city’s old water tower west of the high school — and voted to send the city a letter expressing their concern.
Superintendent Aaron Homburg said the board is not against granting an access easement to the water tower on school property, but does not want a cell tower on school property.
Verizon Wireless originally proposed to build a 129-foot monopole telecommunications tower at Commercial and Forest Sts. Neighbors objected to that plan, citing health and safety fears and alleging violation of city zoning regulations. They filed a protest petition. The plan was tabled in late March.
In May, Verizon asked for time to seek a different location for the cell tower in order to appease neighbors of the first proposed location.
In October, council members considered a request to allow Verizon access to the city’s old water tower west of the high school so they could determine if the water tower would be a suitable place to mount an antenna. Resident Darvin Markley urged council members to delay a decision until the school district was consulted.
Mayor Todd Heitschmidt spoke to the school board last month, and the school board took it under advisement until Monday.