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Saratoga County tables engineering contract for proposed Stillwater radio tower after park and cemetery view concerns
Summary
After extended discussion about visibility, historic-site impacts and public reaction, Saratoga County supervisors voted to table a contract award for engineering work on a planned public-safety radio tower in Stillwater so staff can gather more information and community feedback.
Saratoga County supervisors on March 5 tabled a resolution that would have authorized a contract with Aerosmith Incorporated of Saratoga Springs to provide engineering design and construction-phase services for a proposed public-safety radio tower on property at 44 Phillips Road in the Town of Stillwater.
County officials said the project aims to improve emergency radio communications and local cellular coverage in the Stillwater/Schuylerville area, which staff described as having intermittent radio and cell service. The contract under consideration would have paid $70,000 for engineering work with a recommended contingency of up to $15,000 for permitting and related fees.
Supervisors and staff raised concerns about the tower site’s proximity to battlefield parkland and a nearby cemetery and about how visible the structure would be from park and public vantage points. One supervisor said the county should expect “phones don't stop ringing” and media inquiries if the site moves forward without broader outreach. County staff noted that Verizon (listed in the meeting record as Sal Co Partnership, DBA Verizon Wireless) had already produced a view-shed analysis and that further environmental and cultural reviews (including NEPA and State Historic Preservation Office processes) are the engineer’s responsibility.
After discussion about needing more community outreach, property-owner conversations and alternate sites, a supervisor moved to table the contract award to allow staff to gather additional information and perform more outreach; the motion to table was seconded and carried.
County staff said the need for improved coverage is tied to emergency response gaps and anticipated increases in tourism well ahead of 2027, and they described continuing coordination with neighboring Washington County communications. Staff and supervisors asked for additional mapping and local canvassing ahead of returning to the board.
The board did not approve the contract with Aerosmith at this meeting; it remains tabled pending further study.
