For over eight months our neighborhood group has been working to oppose the proposed location of a cell tower near our homes. In the Herald article (Herald, Oct. 16), there were many misleading statements leading to false impressions as to our intentions. We are not opposed to cell service in our area, just the tower location.
Fidelity towers has been proposing this tower since 2013 and finally found an absentee landowner to lease them a site. In this location, the projected service area does not include cell service to the majority of residents in Forest Lakes and only serves a small portion of County Road 240. It will not serve 5,000 residents as claimed by Fidelity. There are more suitable sites near and in Forest Lakes that better meet their cell service goals, including more coverage in Forest Lakes.
The reporter’s dog-whistle reference to the CDF and anti-vaxxing stemmed from a comment by only one individual who had not been involved with our position until the day she spoke. Far more reputable sources were cited by other speakers. The day of the meeting, T-Mobile was allowed to submit an inflammatory letter stating not having cell service in the area has caused lives to be lost, an unsubstantiated claim, not supported by the Upper Pine River Fire Protection District.
All we want is a safe, nonintrusive location which will provide reliable service for all area residents. This is not about no cell service, just a different location.
Respectfully,
Debra and Gregg Janus; Mark and Ellen James; Terry Grimes; J.L. and Diana Boudreaux; Chris Rodi and Robin Moyle; Ted Cercos; David and Lyn Bishop; Rhonda and Kevin Gould; Mike and Maria Gainey; Paul and Dani Wilcock; Tim Deal; Sam Haines; Mike and Sue Lamon; Chuck and Robin Cole; Robert and Joelle Hughes; Paul and Ashley Cardwell
