I. Falls Actions
Recent Activities
10. On January 19, 2018, US Cellular filed suit against the Village of Menomonee Falls for denying the conditional use permit. A copy of this lawsuit is not yet available. The Village Board will hold a closed-door meeting on Monday, January 29 to discuss their response. Please write now to the Village Board at [email protected] to encourage them not to cave to this threat by Big Business to usurp the rights of the citizens and the community. This is a ploy that has been used repeatedly against small communities to force them to bow to the will of the corporation at the expense of the will and well-being of the citizens. Lawsuits cost money and the corporations seem to have an unlimited supply. But when Menomonee Falls stands up to this, US Cellular will lose face and customers and other communities will have the courage to do so, too. It will be a win, win for Wisconsinites and a lose, lose for cell tower companies. Write today!
9. On January 15, 2018 a group of Falls REACT volunteers met to discuss and prioritize future efforts. Plans were considered to organize a panel of experts to present the facts as known about cell antenna function and emission, 5G technology, the physiological effects of EMF radiation, the effect on property value in Wisconsin and the Midwest, and the legal ramifications of existing laws and recommended changes to them to once again protect the rights and health of residents as regards cell tower placement. It is anticipated that citizens from the Falls and neighboring communities, our board and Plan Commission members and those from local governments, and state legislators will attend so that only informed decisions can be made for cell tower construction. Plans were also presented to begin work with neighboring communities to lobby state legislators to amend or remove restrictive laws that currently hamper the right of local governments to enforce existing codes and zoning regulations in regards to cell tower placement in residential areas. Volunteers are needed for many aspects of these projects. Please consider signing up to help with this work.
8. On December 4, 2017, the Village Board voted unanimously to deny the conditional use permit for the Fire Station #3 permit and inexplicably voted unanimously to allow the permit for Old Falls Village. Popular resistance took the form of petitions signed by more than 1,100 citizens of the Falls to oppose residential cell towers, 722 mailed post cards opposing residential cell towers sent from residents of the Falls to board members, about 180 yard signs distributed without charge throughout the village with the same message, and countless letters, emails, and phone calls from residents directed to individual board members expressing opposition to all residential cell towers. Nearly 5,000 informational flyers were distributed over the preceding two-month period. The democratic process worked for the fire station site but was completely ignored for the Old Falls Village site. There has yet to be an explanation for this vote.
7. On November 7, 2017 the Village Plan Commission voted inexplicably 4 to 1, with only Paul Tadda denying and Joe Helm abstaining, to recommend construction of both towers in spite of objections by many residents and the submission of petitions signed by residents to total 930 when added to the petitions previously submitted on August 8. A total of 13 letters had been written to the members of the commission objecting strongly to the construction of towers in residential neighborhoods and none supporting the proposal by US Cellular. More than 400 post cards objecting to residential cell towers had been received, although more than 600 had been mailed. It is abundantly clear that commission members are unresponsive to the will of the public they serve. A representative from US Cellular was allowed to speak for over half an hour with no possibility of the public questioning or correcting his glib remarks with known facts about the harmful effects of EMF and the negative effect proximity to cell towers has on property value. Residents had only 3 minutes each before the US Cellular rep spoke. The bias of the commission members was obvious. This is an appalling betrayal of public trust that flies in the face of the democratic process. Fortunately, the Plan Commission can only recommend - it is the Village Board that votes to accept or deny permit requests. The board next meets December 4, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. in Village Hall.
6. On October 3, 2017 the Village Plan Commission accepted two conditional use permits for 120-foot cell towers to be installed at Fire Station #3 on Lilly Road and at Old Falls Village on Pilgrim and Highway Q. Both are surrounded by residential neighborhoods and therefore objectionable to residents. There will be a public hearing on these proposals on November 7, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. in Village Hall.
5. On October 2, 2017 the Village Board of Trustees held their biweekly meeting before which citizens are usually encouraged to speak on issues of concern to them. Usually, the public input period was videotaped along with the meeting; however, the Board recently decided to discontinue this practice, so record is not kept of public concerns. Joe Helm, Village Board President, announced that the time would be limited to 15 minutes at this meeting. Thirteen citizens wanted to express their objections to the cell tower on Lilly Road but only five were allowed to speak. Our voices were silenced, even when we spoke.
4. On September 26, one day following a citizen gathering of some 15 people to discuss possible strategies for resisting the newly proposed cell tower placements, four individuals went at the invitation of Jeremy Walz to speak before the Board of County Supervisors to request their assistance in supporting Companion Bill 348 in the state senate to protect property owners by requiring a setback equal to the height of the pole for towers placed on or near residential property. They were denied the right to speak, even though there is a period for public input before the official meeting commences.
3. On September 18, 2017, the village Board met behind closed doors to hash out the details of lease agreements with US Cellular for sites at Fire station #3 and at Old Falls Village. At the meeting, citizens spoke out against the towers, all surrounded by residential land, but the public comments are no longer recorded so no record exists of their eloquent and often touching speeches. Joe Helm, president of the board, chided the speakers as if small children that the board, in approving the leases at a 5-2 vote (Jeremy Walz and Paul Tadda denying), was only doing what was asked by "several of you" at the August 8 meeting of the Plan Commission (an untruth) and complaining that the hands of the Board were tied by State Statute 66.0404 (another untruth). Lease agreements show full drawings (when was this done?? how long had this been planned??) for the towers and payment to the village of $1,400 per month for the fire station and $1,100 per month for Old Falls Village. Old Falls Village has a large water tower with two antennas on it - why can US Cellular not co-locate there? Note that the village will make money at the expense of the health and property value of its citizens.
2. On September 15, 2017, US Cellular withdrew their request to install a tower on the Appleton Avenue and Lilly Road site, though the company reserved the right to revisit that site. Public outrage forced the change! New sites are now at Fire Station #3 on Lilly Road just down the road a few hundred feet and Old Falls Village, both surrounded by residential property. Apparently, negotiations had already been underway for the Old falls Village site, unbeknownst to citizens.
1. On August 8, 2017, the Plan Commission unanimously denied the conditional use permit for US Cellular to build a 120-foot tower on the corner of Appleton and Lilly Road. Overwhelming public support - 508 signatures on the petition (given on the Petition Page on this site and still available for signing by residents of the Falls of voting age) to oppose it - and cogent and often poignant arguments by citizens influenced the decision.
9. On January 15, 2018 a group of Falls REACT volunteers met to discuss and prioritize future efforts. Plans were considered to organize a panel of experts to present the facts as known about cell antenna function and emission, 5G technology, the physiological effects of EMF radiation, the effect on property value in Wisconsin and the Midwest, and the legal ramifications of existing laws and recommended changes to them to once again protect the rights and health of residents as regards cell tower placement. It is anticipated that citizens from the Falls and neighboring communities, our board and Plan Commission members and those from local governments, and state legislators will attend so that only informed decisions can be made for cell tower construction. Plans were also presented to begin work with neighboring communities to lobby state legislators to amend or remove restrictive laws that currently hamper the right of local governments to enforce existing codes and zoning regulations in regards to cell tower placement in residential areas. Volunteers are needed for many aspects of these projects. Please consider signing up to help with this work.
8. On December 4, 2017, the Village Board voted unanimously to deny the conditional use permit for the Fire Station #3 permit and inexplicably voted unanimously to allow the permit for Old Falls Village. Popular resistance took the form of petitions signed by more than 1,100 citizens of the Falls to oppose residential cell towers, 722 mailed post cards opposing residential cell towers sent from residents of the Falls to board members, about 180 yard signs distributed without charge throughout the village with the same message, and countless letters, emails, and phone calls from residents directed to individual board members expressing opposition to all residential cell towers. Nearly 5,000 informational flyers were distributed over the preceding two-month period. The democratic process worked for the fire station site but was completely ignored for the Old Falls Village site. There has yet to be an explanation for this vote.
7. On November 7, 2017 the Village Plan Commission voted inexplicably 4 to 1, with only Paul Tadda denying and Joe Helm abstaining, to recommend construction of both towers in spite of objections by many residents and the submission of petitions signed by residents to total 930 when added to the petitions previously submitted on August 8. A total of 13 letters had been written to the members of the commission objecting strongly to the construction of towers in residential neighborhoods and none supporting the proposal by US Cellular. More than 400 post cards objecting to residential cell towers had been received, although more than 600 had been mailed. It is abundantly clear that commission members are unresponsive to the will of the public they serve. A representative from US Cellular was allowed to speak for over half an hour with no possibility of the public questioning or correcting his glib remarks with known facts about the harmful effects of EMF and the negative effect proximity to cell towers has on property value. Residents had only 3 minutes each before the US Cellular rep spoke. The bias of the commission members was obvious. This is an appalling betrayal of public trust that flies in the face of the democratic process. Fortunately, the Plan Commission can only recommend - it is the Village Board that votes to accept or deny permit requests. The board next meets December 4, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. in Village Hall.
6. On October 3, 2017 the Village Plan Commission accepted two conditional use permits for 120-foot cell towers to be installed at Fire Station #3 on Lilly Road and at Old Falls Village on Pilgrim and Highway Q. Both are surrounded by residential neighborhoods and therefore objectionable to residents. There will be a public hearing on these proposals on November 7, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. in Village Hall.
5. On October 2, 2017 the Village Board of Trustees held their biweekly meeting before which citizens are usually encouraged to speak on issues of concern to them. Usually, the public input period was videotaped along with the meeting; however, the Board recently decided to discontinue this practice, so record is not kept of public concerns. Joe Helm, Village Board President, announced that the time would be limited to 15 minutes at this meeting. Thirteen citizens wanted to express their objections to the cell tower on Lilly Road but only five were allowed to speak. Our voices were silenced, even when we spoke.
4. On September 26, one day following a citizen gathering of some 15 people to discuss possible strategies for resisting the newly proposed cell tower placements, four individuals went at the invitation of Jeremy Walz to speak before the Board of County Supervisors to request their assistance in supporting Companion Bill 348 in the state senate to protect property owners by requiring a setback equal to the height of the pole for towers placed on or near residential property. They were denied the right to speak, even though there is a period for public input before the official meeting commences.
3. On September 18, 2017, the village Board met behind closed doors to hash out the details of lease agreements with US Cellular for sites at Fire station #3 and at Old Falls Village. At the meeting, citizens spoke out against the towers, all surrounded by residential land, but the public comments are no longer recorded so no record exists of their eloquent and often touching speeches. Joe Helm, president of the board, chided the speakers as if small children that the board, in approving the leases at a 5-2 vote (Jeremy Walz and Paul Tadda denying), was only doing what was asked by "several of you" at the August 8 meeting of the Plan Commission (an untruth) and complaining that the hands of the Board were tied by State Statute 66.0404 (another untruth). Lease agreements show full drawings (when was this done?? how long had this been planned??) for the towers and payment to the village of $1,400 per month for the fire station and $1,100 per month for Old Falls Village. Old Falls Village has a large water tower with two antennas on it - why can US Cellular not co-locate there? Note that the village will make money at the expense of the health and property value of its citizens.
2. On September 15, 2017, US Cellular withdrew their request to install a tower on the Appleton Avenue and Lilly Road site, though the company reserved the right to revisit that site. Public outrage forced the change! New sites are now at Fire Station #3 on Lilly Road just down the road a few hundred feet and Old Falls Village, both surrounded by residential property. Apparently, negotiations had already been underway for the Old falls Village site, unbeknownst to citizens.
1. On August 8, 2017, the Plan Commission unanimously denied the conditional use permit for US Cellular to build a 120-foot tower on the corner of Appleton and Lilly Road. Overwhelming public support - 508 signatures on the petition (given on the Petition Page on this site and still available for signing by residents of the Falls of voting age) to oppose it - and cogent and often poignant arguments by citizens influenced the decision.
Pending Activities
Our focus must now change to working with nearby communities at the state level to change the laws that allow residential cell towers to be built. No neighborhood, no school, no yard will be safe from invasion by unwanted and harmful cell towers until the power to regulate their construction is returned to individual communities.
What You Can Do
1. Volunteer to help organize a panel discussion of experts to take place in the new year. Education is key to our understanding of the actual need for cell towers and our awareness of the most recent research on detrimental health effects and lowered property values when towers are built in or near residential areas.
2. Call the Vice President of Brand Marketing for US Cellular:
773-399-8900 ask for the operator to get connected to Grant Leech.
Tell him you are appalled at the policy of erecting towers in residential neighborhoods with no regard to the laws of the community or the wishes of the residents. If you have US Cellular as your provider, tell him you will change unless there is a shift in policy. If you do not, tell him you are looking for a new provider but will not consider them unless there is a change in policy. As a Menomonee Falls resident, you do not want a new tower on or near residential property - there is plenty of room for towers on industrial land not surrounded by families. Or something similar - make it yours!
Tell everyone you know to do this - any city, any town, even out of state!!! The more calls, the better! Couples should call individually and also young people with accounts.
3. Check this web site often for updates - and tell your friends to do the same!
2. Call the Vice President of Brand Marketing for US Cellular:
773-399-8900 ask for the operator to get connected to Grant Leech.
Tell him you are appalled at the policy of erecting towers in residential neighborhoods with no regard to the laws of the community or the wishes of the residents. If you have US Cellular as your provider, tell him you will change unless there is a shift in policy. If you do not, tell him you are looking for a new provider but will not consider them unless there is a change in policy. As a Menomonee Falls resident, you do not want a new tower on or near residential property - there is plenty of room for towers on industrial land not surrounded by families. Or something similar - make it yours!
Tell everyone you know to do this - any city, any town, even out of state!!! The more calls, the better! Couples should call individually and also young people with accounts.
3. Check this web site often for updates - and tell your friends to do the same!
II. Community News
1. Because of strong opposition by Greendale residents, on February 6, 2017, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Greendale voted unanimously to deny the application for a Special Use Permit by T-Mobile to
construct a 103-foot cell tower on the property of St. Stephen the Martyr Lutheran Church in a residential neighborhood. In March of 2017, PI Tower Development and the church filed a lawsuit against the Village of Greendale. A group of Greendale residents formed an unincorporated association, hired an attorney and was named a party to the lawsuit in December 2017 to support the Village of Greendale in its defense. As of January 15, 2018, the court action is still pending.
construct a 103-foot cell tower on the property of St. Stephen the Martyr Lutheran Church in a residential neighborhood. In March of 2017, PI Tower Development and the church filed a lawsuit against the Village of Greendale. A group of Greendale residents formed an unincorporated association, hired an attorney and was named a party to the lawsuit in December 2017 to support the Village of Greendale in its defense. As of January 15, 2018, the court action is still pending.
III. County and State Actions
Recent Activities
Text
Pending Activities
Text
What You Can Do
Text
REACT!!
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
----- Margaret Mead, anthropologist