Balloon test: Chief says tower is ‘life or death’

A red-orange balloon was raised 110 feet in the air on April 7, the height of a new proposed cell tower that is expected to improve cell coverage in the northwest corner of town.

The latex balloon, nearly four feet in diameter, was raised at 1837 Ponus Ridge by All Point Technology to show the visibility of the tower that is being designed to resemble a tree.

The weather “cooperated” for the helium balloon test that took place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to Raymond Vergati, regional manager for Homeland Towers, LLC.

Homeland Towers provides wireless infrastructure solutions for municipalities and is New Canaan’s chosen partner in expanding and improving cellular phone coverage, according to First Selectman Kevin Moynihan.

The Police Chief Leon Krolikowski said that he is relieved that public safety antennas for New Canaan Police Department, Fire Department and EMS will colocate with cell phone carriers on the tower.

The New Canaan Police Department fields 5,000 911 calls each year, the chief said.

“The lack of cellular service and dropped calls are no longer a nuisance, they are a liability,” the chief said. “For many years, the northwest area of town has had poor or nonexistent wireless coverage.”

At a time when “many residents rely solely on cell phones and have done away with traditional landline service,” cell phone coverage “could be the difference between life and death,” Krolikowski said.