At the September 18 meeting of the Fillmore County Planning Commission, applications for conditional use permits for four telecommunication towers were debated during public hearings.
Mike Huizenga, project manager for GSS, Inc., had applied for conditional use permits on behalf of Cloud 1 Services to construct a 195-foot self-supporting telecommunication tower in each of four townships. Cloud 1 Services has entered into a lease agreement with each of the landowners. Each of the towers proposed will be set back 100% of their height from property lines to ensure safety in the unlikely event of collapse. The towers will each be able to handle four carriers. AT&T will be the first anchor tenant/carrier.
The application for the tower to be built in section 36 of Norway Township on property owned by Johnson Rolling Acres Partnership/Richard Johnson was recommended to be sent on to the county board for their consideration. There was no public comment. Huizenga noted this is one of over 60 proposed towers to be constructed in southeast Minnesota. Gary Ruskell asked about the county’s three-mile separation standard from another telecommunications tower. Huizenga explained the client is requesting financial hardship to be considered due to the very excessive rates currently being charged on another tower less than one mile from the proposed location for this tower.
The application for the tower to be built in section 15 of Forestville Township on property owned by Robert and Mary Root/Kurt and Melissa Langeslag was disputed as to the proposed location. Randy Grabau said he was not against construction of the tower on his neighbor’s property but was against the fact the proposed location was just 600 feet from his family home. He insisted for health reasons it should be at least a quarter of a mile from his home. He was concerned about prolonged electric magnetic exposure, especially with the newer 5G.
Huizenga said he understood his concerns adding he has done his own research. He provided literature that indicated that reputable sources agree that there is no known health risk from radiofrequency energy and wireless devices. There is no credible evidence that emissions from cell towers cause adverse health effects. He insisted 5G has been around a long time. Grabau asked if alternate locations had been submitted. Huizenga described the complicated process involved when determining/locating suitable locations that will meet coverage needs.
Wenda Grabau stated that their farm has been in the family since 1866. She listed a number of possible health issues that could result. She insisted, “This is not the heritage I want to leave to our kids; I am not comfortable with the placement of this tower.”
Huizenga said he felt the local zoning standard has been met, noting, “By the time the application gets to this point, my clients are quite invested in the project.” Duane Bakke, after looking at the maps, suggested a location might have been possible providing a distance of nearly 1,500 feet from homes in the area; he then conceded that the 500-foot setback required in the county’s ordinance is probably adequate, making it legal to build in the proposed location. There were no other comments from the public. The commission unanimously recommended the application for the conditional use permit be sent on to the county board for its consideration.
The application for a conditional use permit for the tower to be built in section 7 of Arendahl Township on land owned by Gary Olson was recommended to be sent on to the county board for their consideration. There was no public comment.
The application for a conditional use permit for the tower to be built in section 26 of Fillmore Township on property owned by Evan Krahn was recommended to be sent on to the county board for their consideration. There was no public comment.
Board of Adjustment
Ty and Dacia Bestor, section 34 of Bristol Township, requested an 18-foot variance from centerline of CR 116 and a 23-foot variance from the centerline of 255th Ave. to replace an existing well house. The variances were approved as requested.
Caleb Benson, section 27 of Newburg Township, requested a variance to allow the construction of a septic drainfield less than 20 feet from a garage (five feet between at grade and garage). The variance was approved as requested.
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