Operating as the county seat of Pickaway County, OH, Circleville has a population just under 14,000 that is experiencing some digital growing pains. Although the Columbus suburb already has a number of cell towers, many of them were not designed to handle the increase in 5G traffic. As The Scioto Post reports, the town has been debating the best way to meet its changing communications needs. However, it also notes that progress has been stalled by repeated misinformation and worries about aesthetics.
Small cell poles in Circleville stand approximately 15-feet high. If a proposed AT&T cell tower was erected, the new 150-foot tower would allow many of the smaller towers to be removed. An older cell tower on East Franklin Street near the police station has been identified as a candidate for replacement.
Arguing against the new cell tower plan, Councilwoman Sheri Theis said that she was concerned about the radiation exposure that a bigger cell tower would generate. Councilman Tom Duvall echoed her concerns, adding that the cell tower was “ugly.” While “ugly” is a subjective matter, the Scioto Post pointed out that the current tower occupying that site is much shorter, whereas the new design would put the cell tower equipment much higher up, extending the distance between the people benefitting from the tower and the equipment it is hosting. It also reminded readers that evidence continues to assert that cell towers do not endanger humans and should not cause undue alarm.
Speaking in favor of the plan to construct a taller tower, Councilwoman Katie Logan Hedges stated that better connectivity would be an asset to police and emergency services. She recommended inviting a cell tower representative to a future council meeting to answer questions and calm the fears of those less familiar with cell tower facts.
Deciding on a path forward for Circleville, according to the Post, is largely in the hands of Pickaway County though the future of connectivity in town has been a heated topic for city council members. With opinions divided, no resolution was reached at this time. Mayor Michelle Blanton suggested hiring legal experts to weigh in with more information to promote a fair hearing for the cell tower pros and cons before advancing any further.
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