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Roachdale gives thumbs up to Cellect Towers contract
ROACHDALE -- Although a number of details are still to be worked out, Roachdale officials now have a clear signal as to what cellphone amplification will mean for the rural Putnam community.
Giving the go-ahead to proceed with preliminary work after hearing his initial proposal in April, the town board decided to continue backing Brian Ramirez at its latest public session following an update of his efforts, approving a contract with the wireless technology company Cellect Towers LLC. (CTL).
Ramirez, who was flanked by fellow agent Rich Kotite at the May 9 meeting, is a representative of CTL and a frequent visitor the town, witnessing firsthand the frustration that often comes with a complete lack of cellphone signal.
“We recently sent over a contract for Roachdale attorney (David Peebles) to review,” Ramirez said, to which Board President Zach Bowers replied the contract had received a thumbs up, “and we had spoken about two different locations -- one on the north side of town and one out at the water treatment facility.
“I do like the one on the north side of town, but it’s a very thin property,” Ramirez continued. “My concerns on that one -- and I think I can make it work -- are that I need to find out how wide it is and if there are any easement (requirements) from (CSX Transportation) that might interfere, as well as any potential utility easements that run north or south along (County Road 250 North).”
The site, which sits roughly one-half mile north of State Road 236, is favorable in that the grassy clearing is already owned by the town, clearing the path for a cell tower to be erected.
However, Ramirez noted that CSX, which owns the nearby railroad tracks, requires 50 feet of clearance around its tracks, making the situation tricky but achievable, Ramirez explained.
Other than a power line that may need minor adjustments to meet the 50-foot easement requirement (with another five feet of clearance needed for the power line, itself), the literal width of the property may be an issue.
“If I can get 50 feet, width-wise, I can make it work length-wise,” Ramirez said, noting the rectangular shape of the property.
The other possible site for the tower, which would be 250 to 300-feet tall and take a lattice form, lies on the premises of the Roachdale wastewater treatment facility on the western edge of town.
“If the one on the north side won’t work, we would certainly want to go back over there (to the wastewater facility site),” Ramirez said. “I like the one at the wastewater facility because it’s close to the main thoroughfare of (State Road) 236, but then we would have security issues with us trying to get in at night, like if there is a technician that needs to get in to fix something. It’s just a little more difficult, logistically.”
As of May 9, Ramirez was granted approval to present the two sites to the major players of the wireless industry -- Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint -- for which updates are expected at the next regularly-scheduled public session in June.
Approval of the proposed contract was also needed before Ramirez could proceed with carrier talks. The board approved the contract, which Ramirez said in April would take the form of a 50-year lease at “no cost to the town,” via 3-0 vote.
Finally, it was made clear that community perspective is important when proposing rural sites to wireless carriers. Roachdale residents are encouraged to call their respective carriers (or electronically by use of the carriers’ mobile applications) to tell them “we need signal here.”
“Generally speaking, the overall process takes about nine to 12 months,” Ramirez said. “We have to do many things from a state, local and federal aspect, as well as (cooperate with) regulations with the FAA, FCC, state and historical things, migratory birds -- there are just tons and tons of things that we have to go through. Even (regulations in regard to) the Indiana bat say you can’t cut a tree down between April 15 and Nov. 1.”
In other business:
• A Wastewater System Rehab Project update was given. A “punch-list of very minor items” is the only remaining issue before the project can be called complete. The list includes a new trash container, rubber chute for the container and meter hours for UMAC. The project is hoped to be completed by the end of May.
• A Stormwater Project update was also given. Work south of Roachdale has been completed with exceptions to a trench for stormwater drainage and repaving that is expected to be done by the end of May.
• Property clean-ups were discussed.
As for the issue of the Steve Keck property, for which town attorney David Peebles was attempting to set up a hearing date, Roachdale resident Josh Higgins now owns the property and plans to demolish all structures as early as June 7. Keck will have 30 days from the purchase agreement (May 8) to remove any of his possessions and equipment.
President Bowers sought and received an unsafe building declaration for a barn on the property of 310 E. Grove St.
• Two agreements were approved as it pertains to the Gavilon/Roachdale natural gas contract, which is still in preliminary stages. The Interconnecting Reimbursement Agreement and the base contract for the sale and purchase of natural gas were each approved via 3-0 vote.
“The long and short of it is, for up to five years Gavilon is reimbursing us to run a gas line from the town to their facility ... they’re paying the $2.75 per unit of gas which will more than cover our costs,” Bowers said.
• The purchase of the lot at 207 N. Indiana St. was approved for the amount of $5,000 from the Roachdale Fire Department.
• Several building permits were granted. They are: 509 N. Indiana St. (roof); 205 W. Walnut St. (roof); 105 E. South St. (roof); 5 N. Walnut St. (fence); 6 N. Meridian St. (fence); and 14 N. Meridian St. (roof).
• The next regularly-scheduled public session will be on Tuesday, June 13 at 7 p.m. at Roachdale Town Hall, located at 205 N. Indiana St