Meeker, Stories

Public hearing for cell tower continued — Community wants cell tower, but not in the proposed location

Local attorney Joe Fennessy, representing Les and Susan Sprod, asked that RBC commissioners not give the applicants “another bite at the apple. The application is complete, you should vote on it and deny it.” Commissioners voted to continue the hearing until Dec. 11 at 7 p.m.
MEEKER I A public hearing for Rio Blanco County commissioners to take comments on a special use permit to build a 199-foot cell tower has been continued until 7 p.m. Dec. 11 in the commissioners’ meeting room in the Fairfield Center.
“We had no clue this was going to happen or we probably would have looked for a different way,” said local businessman Joe Conrado (standing), about the public hearing and comments from adjacent landowners on their application to place a 199-foot communications tower on a parcel of their property on RBC Road 13 (Flag Creek Road).
Applicants Joe and Kelly Conrado were requesting approval for Mercury Towers to install a wireless telecommunication facility on land owned by the Conrados on RBC Road 13 (Flag Creek Road). The proposed facility will include a self-supporting tower (195-feet high with a 4-foot lightning rod), located on the southwest corner of the parcel.
According to the application, Mercury Towers is developing the proposed site in conjunction with AT&T to improve the carrier’s wireless communications network in the area, increasing coverage for AT&T customers and others in the area.
Mercury Towers representative Aaron Gunn said eight towers have been approved in Routt County and two in Moffat County as part of an initiative to provide broadband in rural areas of the state and the AT&T tower would be a co-location tower (used by carriers).
“The goal is to cover the town of Meeker, the highway corridor and cover as much area as possible,” Gunn said. “We want it as close to Meeker as possible to bring the area into the 21st century, with good, efficient 3G service.”
Everyone attending the meeting was in favor of better coverage, including adjacent landowners Les and Susan Sprod, represented by attorney Joe Fennessy, who said because of safety and view scape concerns, the proposed tower was in the “wrong place.”
“Why put it in somebody’s backyard?” Fennessy asked. “The applicant has the burden of proof. Where are the other options? The applicant did not offer alternatives, no view maps of what a 200-foot tower would look like. The glass is empty for support.”
Although Gunn said the towers are not designed to fail, the proposed tower would be built within 75 feet of a high-voltage power line, which is not within the 1 to 1 fall distance plus 10 feet required by White River Electric Association, within 50 feet of RBC Road 13 and 30 feet from Sprod’s property.
Gunn said the tower would not be lit since it is under 200 feet high but several in attendance said it was a safety concern for airplanes flying in and out of the Meeker Airport.
“It is in a landing and takeoff area,” Meeker Airport manager Gary Coulter said.
“We certainly can find a better place,” local rancher and pilot Wiley Berthelson said. “Rio Blanco County is spending a lot of money moving dirt out there (Meeker Airport) now for better safety.
“We had no clue this was going to happen or we probably would have looked for a different way because we don’t like the hostilities that have come through in these letters,” Joe Conrado said. “We had no idea this community did not want to upgrade.”
Cari Hermacinski with AT&T asked commissioners to “table” the decision until they could better address concerns but Fennessy disagreed, saying the application was complete and the commissioners should “vote and deny it.”
Commissioners did decide to continue the public hearing Dec. 11, requesting more information from the Federal Aviation Association, other possible locations and to address the fall distance of height plus 10 feet.
“We want to err on the side of safety,” commissioner Ken Parsons said.

One Comment

  1. Beverly R DeVore-Wedding

    “We had no idea this community did not want to upgrade.” What? Of course everyone wants an upgrade but not by placing a 198 + Ft tower illegally it seems (not meeting the 1 to1 fall distance) or to interrupt the views.
    So deny this application but where should this tower go? I didn’t read any alternative proposed solutions in this article and unfortunately was not in attendance at the meeting. Are there other locations that will work? Are their other solutions? Would be nice to have heard some of those instead of just the negativism of this situation. Surely there is a workable solution.

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Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
1 day ago
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Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line.  The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale.
Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line. The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale. Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch. See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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Meeker FFA Chapter members competed at the District Leadership Development Event in Craig, Colorado, this month. Top row from left to right: Eva Scritchfield, Charlie Rogers, Alan Rivera, Trent Sanders, Koy Weber, Orion Musser, Said Rodriguez, Carlos Carrillo, Aidan Tapia, Hayden Garcia, Tristan Rollins, Mathew Willey, Quentin Simpson. Middle row: Sidney Keetch, Aurora Stallings, Sydnie Ross, Ava Nay, Lili Piper, Leah Wood. Bottom Row: Jaicee Simmons, Kailynn Watson, Cody Richardson, Kayla Castillo, Braydin Raley, Autumn Stallings, Aimee Shults, Emily Hamm. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
2 days ago
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Choose-your-own-adventure…. Hear from our Editor in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
3 days ago
View on Instagram |
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A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
4 days ago
View on Instagram |
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Black Sulphur Tavern held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for their new business at 364 Seventh St. The space has been renovated with several TVs and games and provides a fun, friendly atmosphere to watch your favorite sports team and enjoy a burger and wings. Owners Frank Maestas and Pat Maestas are pictured with their new staff and Chamber of Commerce representatives Stephanie Hanson, Trudy Burri and Margie Joy. Follow Black Sulphur Tavern on Facebook. Their hours are Wednesday and Thursday 3-9 p.m., Friday 3 p.m. - 1 a.m., Saturday 11-1 a.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to midnight.
Black Sulphur Tavern held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for their new business at 364 Seventh St. The space has been renovated with several TVs and games and provides a fun, friendly atmosphere to watch your favorite sports team and enjoy a burger and wings. Owners Frank Maestas and Pat Maestas are pictured with their new staff and Chamber of Commerce representatives Stephanie Hanson, Trudy Burri and Margie Joy. Follow Black Sulphur Tavern on Facebook. Their hours are Wednesday and Thursday 3-9 p.m., Friday 3 p.m. - 1 a.m., Saturday 11-1 a.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to midnight.
4 days ago
View on Instagram |
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The winning teams and individuals for the 18th annual White River Community Association Buy-Fly Fishing Tournament are as follows. Individual top weight catch was Dave Metrovich and longest fish was Kevin Massey. First place team won by Rio Blanco Abstract: Erik Eckman, Adam Parrett, Dave Metrovich and Wayne Kirkpatrick. Second place team was Drake Consulting: Travis Kaiser, John Douglas, Tony Bartolomucci and Bob Brandeberry. Third place team Mr. Rogers and the Hood (accepted by Doug Rogers) Gary Rogers, Mark Beauchamp, Kyle Schutte and Rick Gunter. The white fish have been frozen and will be served at the annual White River Community Association fish fry fundraiser in June.
5 days ago
View on Instagram |
8/9
Cowboy Carson Klinzmann on the mound for Meeker at Suplizio Field in Grand Junction last Saturday. Meeker took on the 4A Rifle Bears, losing 11-1, and the Basalt Longhorns, losing 7-3. Read the recap online at ht1885.com.
Cowboy Carson Klinzmann on the mound for Meeker at Suplizio Field in Grand Junction last Saturday. Meeker took on the 4A Rifle Bears, losing 11-1, and the Basalt Longhorns, losing 7-3. Read the recap online at ht1885.com.
5 days ago
View on Instagram |
9/9

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