Where Do You Want to See St. Louis County’s New Emergency Tower?
A County-owned property in Sunset Hills is being eyed for a 190-foot tower that would allow emergency responders in three counties to communicate, but the location is drawing opposition from residents.
Sunset Hills residents aren't crazy about the proposed location for St. Louis County's new telecommunications tower along Lindbergh Boulevard.
The 190-foot tower will better connect emergency responders across St. Louis County with those in St. Charles and Jefferson counties. Its proposed site, at the South County Medical Center at 4580 S. Lindbergh Blvd., is among one of 25 towers being proposed throughout the area, and the location of each plays an important role in their coverage, St. Louis County Emergency Communications Commission Director David Barney said. The County needs to achieve 98 percent coverage across the network; to do that, the towers must be in close enough range to communicate with each other, he said.
Several residents, many of whom addressed the planning and zoning commission the week prior, expressed concern about the tower's impact on residential property values--and its 'eyesore' factor on one of the city's most prominent roads.
Cellective Solutions is working on behalf of St. Louis County to confirm tower locations. Before the firm re-approaches aldermen on Jan. 8, the board recommended they look at alternative locations for the tower.
Where would you like to see the tower go? Here are some of the options that were discussed during this month's meeting.
Proposed site: South County Health Center, 4580 S. Lindbergh Blvd.
County-owned properties are top preference, because Cellective Solutions does not need to negotiate a lease, Barney said. They would be able to erect the tower in a corner of the property.
City Hall
Municipally-owned properties were the next preference to County properties, but an existing tower at City Hall won’t support the required equipment, Barney told the board. He wasn’t sure there was space or desire to build a new tower at the government complex, which also runs along Lindbergh Boulevard.
The tower would possible be taller than the current proposed 190-feet in order to communicate with other towers, Barney said.
A few board members encouraged Barney to look into City Hall property.
FOX-2 tower/property
The FOX-2 tower wasn't a top choice because Barney felt the rent, at around $5,000 per month, would exceed the cost of building a new tower. That money could be used for maintaining new equipment, he said.
In addition to a monthly fee, the tower would require reinforcement to hold County equipment.
Lindbergh High School, Mehlville Fire District properties
Athletic fields occupy the majority of green space at the high school; likewise for the Mehlville Fire District property across the street.
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Stephen D
11:16 am on Friday, December 21, 2012
25 towers???? What is this, skynet? Communications are that bad they require a massive spiderweb of 200 ft towers? Something smells here.