DOGWOOD CELL TOWER GOES BACK TO BOARD
Parents and residents concerned about impacts of radiofrequency waves
A controversial cell tower that could be built near a Germantown elementary school has been sent back to the city’s school board after weeks of complaints by parents and residents who live near the school.
The cell tower, which was proposed for construction near Dogwood Elementary School, has raised spirited opposition from a group of residents and parents who are concerned about the health and environmental impacts of radiofrequency waves, particularly potential links to cancer. While proponents and opponents of the cell tower have agreed that the science on the topic is inconclusive and the area around Dogwood elementary has poor cell reception, they’ve differed on whether putting a tower on the school campus is acceptable.
People who support building the tower say there is an immediate public safety risk to not having reliable cellphone coverage in a chunk of the city. People who oppose building the tower near the school question why the school board or city would want to risk the safety of children if it’s not certain
that there are no health risks associated with exposure to radiofrequency waves.
Mayor Mike Palazzolo said May 13 that a new proposal had been submitted May 10 to build the tower 253 feet away from the school — 105 feet farther than the original plan — and the project would go back before the Germantown Municipal School District board for consideration.
The plan to build a 140-foot monopole cell tower on the school campus, proposed by Memphis-based Tower Ventures, had previously been approved by the school board, planning commission, the board of zoning appeals and was on its way to the board of mayor and aldermen for future approval.
Palazzolo said the company had worked with city and school district officials to find a solution that “works for public safety, for commerce” and for the convenience of people who live and work in the area. Opponents of the cell tower said they were glad officials were pursuing a compromise but thought the tower would still be too close to the school.
Despite it not being on the agenda May 13, dozens of people showed up to the board of mayor and aldermen meeting to voice their concerns with the cell tower. About 15 people spoke out against the project, with only one speaking in support of the tower.
Germantown resident Lisa Parker said cellphones were now ubiquitous across the country and, as many people no longer have landlines in their homes, were often the means of calling for help in the event of an emergency.
“We identified this area of the city that has poor cell service,” she said. “The community surrounding the school is in desperate need of cell service as well.”
“We identified this area of the city that has poor cell service. The community surrounding the school is in desperate need of cell service as well.”
Lisa Parker
Parker said her son, who lives near the school, was recently unable to call 911 in an emergency and had to walk outside his home to get signal. She said it is also difficult to get cell reception inside the school and said that could make it dangerous for teachers and students in the event of an emergency at the school.
Strong opposition
Many of those who spoke against the cell tower acknowledged the need for better coverage and said they wanted to see another cell tower in the city, just not so close to the school. Jared Klepko, who serves on the city’s technology commission, said that during the last election cycle he had asked people running for positions as aldermen what they would do to improve cellphone service in his neighborhood near Dogwood Elementary.
Now, after doing more research into the radiofrequency waves emitted by cellphone towers, he said he had changed his mind and was against placing a tower on the same lot as a school two of his children currently attend.
Carie Alley, who serves as new parent liaison for the Dogwood parentteacher organization, said parents were choosing not to send their children to Dogwood specifically because of concerns about the tower. She said it made her sad so much controversy had enveloped the school regarding something that hadn’t even happened yet.
Multiple people who spoke to the board May 13 said they would pull their children out of the school if the cell tower was built.
Dogwood PTO secretary Kathryn Hickey, who has two children at the school, said she was concerned about students being exposed to electromagnetic fields and said she had read studies that linked cell tower technology to deficits in cognitive functioning for children.
“I urge you to vote against placing the cell tower within 1,500 feet of the school,” she said. “Placing a cell tower within 1,500 feet of the school or its surrounding playfields prevents the school from fulfilling its mission.”
She also said she was worried about future unknown consequences of building the tower.
“Once the tower’s up, the school board will have no control over what technology is placed on it,” Hickey said.
Germantown resident Sam Walker said he and his wife moved to their neighborhood near the school because they wanted to move their children out of private school and into Germantown schools. He said even a small amount of research into cellphone towers had raised a lot of concerns and unanswered questions for him.
“Please don’t allow our children to play the guinea pig for an untested new technology,” he said.
Corinne Kennedy is a reporter for the Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at Corinne.kennedy@ Commercialappeal.com.