Rothschild board approves Verizon collocation at 1706 Morrison Ave.

The Village of Rothschild Village Board on Jan. 26 approved a partial site plan review for a Class 2 wireless collocation by Verizon on an existing Vertical Bridge tower at 1706 Morrison Avenue.

Zoning Coordinator Rebekka Borchardt told the board the application covers an expansion of the fenced compound to accommodate additional ground equipment, installation of telecommunications cabinets and a small emergency backup generator, and limited tree and brush clearing along a fiber route. Borchardt said the work will stay outside village and Rib Mountain utility easements and that erosion-control measures and site restoration will be used where needed. A structural analysis by a licensed professional engineer shows the existing tower and foundation have capacity for the new Verizon equipment but conditions the analysis on removal of specified Sprint equipment.

Jonathan Leeb, representing Verizon, summarized the site plan and acknowledged the staff recommendations. The proposed standby generator is described in the application as operating only during power outages or periodic testing; testing is scheduled on weekdays during normal business hours, and Verizon said the site lights are manually switched on only by technicians while working on site.

The board approved the site plan subject to the structural-analysis condition requiring removal of the specified Sprint equipment and to obtaining all required building permits. The motion was made by Trustee Bill Schremp and seconded by Trustee Louella Luedtke and carried 7–0.

No public comments on the item are recorded in the minutes. The approval permits Verizon to proceed with the compound expansion, equipment installation, fiber routing under the existing gravel access drive, and associated limited clearing and restoration under the conditions noted by staff.