A cellular tower may soon grace the sky above the Addison Township Fire Department Station 1, but township officials have been leery about moving forward.
Verizon had contacted Addison Twp. about placing a 200-foot tower on a 2,400 square foot portion of their property at Station 1, which is actually located inside the Village of Leonard at 4026 Forest St.
At the Board of Trustees? March 19 regular meeting, officials made the motion to have their attorneys thoroughly review the draft land lease agreement from Verizon, fearing it may lead to litigation between them and the Village of Leonard somewhere down the line.
Even though Addison signing the draft land lease would only give Verizon the right to present the idea before the Leonard Village Council without any strings attached, Addison officials still weren’t comfortable with the idea.
‘I want to make sure the Village of Leonard is doing this because they feel it’s a necessity and is welcomed and they cannot be sued if they say no,? said Clerk Pauline Bennett. ‘I don’t want to be put in the position that puts my neighbor in a position that he could actually have litigation brought against him.?
John Crane, a Rochester attorney who spoke at the meeting on behalf of Verizon Wireless, assured the board that Verizon could only sue the village if they felt they were given an ‘unfair hearing.? If so, Verizon would come back to the township for a vote to approve suing the village.
‘You’re not committing to any kind of litigation at this time,? he said. ‘You’re not doing anything more than authorizing your attorney to review the lease and negotiate on your behalf.?
Once Addison Twp. signs the land lease agreement, Verizon would approach the Village of Leonard about their proposal. If the village decides to OK the tower, drawings and site plans would be submitted to the township board.
Geno Mallia, Jr., the village council president of Leonard, spoke regarding his concerns with the tower as a resident.
Mallia wanted to know why another site in the village that isn’t the ‘gateway? to their community could be used.
‘You have a wonderful (Watershed Preserve) up here with 300-and-some acres where you could plop this tower in the middle of nowhere and no one would complain,? he said. ‘I’m sure the squirrels and rabbits would love to run around and play with it.?
Addison attorney Robert Davis reminded Mallia that they didn’t solicit Verizon Wireless, but that they were approached.
Mallia also questioned how much revenue the township would make off of the tower and if Leonard would share any of the profit.
Treasurer Dan Alberty didn’t know, but said the township currently receives $35,000 a year for the cell tower located at Station 2 on Rochester Rd.
Trustee Christine Sypitkowski asked Mallia if he was upset because the village was against getting a tower, or that they wouldn’t ‘get the monetary gain? unless it was on village property.
‘I can’t answer if the Village of Leonard is opposed to that tower,? he said. ‘My personal opinion, (it’s the) wrong place.?
Crane did say that Verizon was looking at other locations, but that Station 1 was their ‘primary location.?
The board decided to table signing the land lease agreement until their attorneys review it.
They also wish to have more dialogue with the Village of Leonard about the situation.