(Spirit Lake)– Don’t look for any new communications towers to be going up anytime soon in Spirit Lake.
Meeting in special session Wednesday evening, the city council voted unanimously to put a moratorium on the construction of any new towers.
Concerned over aesthetics, the council wants to keep towers out of areas being proposed for development or where development has already taken place.
The issue was brought to the forefront by a proposal from Cellular One Great Lakes of Iowa to build a 170 foot free-standing tower at the Highways nine and 71 junction in Spirit Lake. Mike Mitchell of Cellular One told the council the tower would be used for the company’s high speed wireless internet service. The company is proposing to build the tower just north of the former Lakes Furniture building. In addition to the tower, Mitchell said he would also construct an office building on the site. He said preliminary plans are to move atleast a portion of the company’s headquarters from Spencer to Spirit Lake.
The moratorium means those plans will be put on hold for now atleast. The council told Mitchell their study on possible locations for such towers will be completed by March 2nd. Mitchell said he’s taken an option on the land and needs to have an answer by then.
