Mayor schedules public hearing after residents raise concerns about proposed cell tower; county oversight noted

A pair of Fountain Green residents, Jennifer White and Roger Darbo, wrote to the city expressing concerns about a proposed communications tower near the city. Their letter, read at the April 10 meeting, raised wildlife protection (references to migratory birds and pollinators), light pollution, and public-health concerns related to electromagnetic emissions. The mayor said a public hearing on the topic will be held and that the commission will accept written comments and direct residents to the appropriate county processes.

City officials clarified jurisdictional responsibility: the proposed tower site is outside Fountain Green city limits, and the county holds permitting authority. The mayor said the city will record resident comments, email a written response and hold a public meeting to gather input that can be forwarded to county decision-makers. The mayor also noted the Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) handles bird-related assessments and that federal statutes such as the Endangered Species Act are relevant to wildlife protections cited by the letter.

"We should write them back and say that this will not be coming before the planning commission, and there's nothing the planning commission can do about it, and direct them to the public hearing," a commissioner said. The mayor agreed to email the residents and to make written contact in addition to a public hearing date announcement. Residents were advised the county and state wildlife agencies are the entities that would evaluate migratory-bird impacts.

The mayor emphasized that the city will accept public input but that county permitting and state or federal wildlife reviews will be the appropriate forums for technical evaluations of impacts and mitigation.