CELL TOWER: Sacrifices citizens’ safety

As a resident of Armstrong Park and a mother of two young children, I have serious concerns regarding this proposed tower. The risks and concerns are very real and there is no necessity to justify this tower. These towers increase fire risk and there is one way in and out of our neighborhood, and this tower will sit at the base of the road, making it impossible for us to evacuate in the event that a fire started there.

The fact is, most if not all of us would die.

Sit on that for a moment please.

We can argue the amount of increased risk, but the fact remains that this area is known to first responders as being problematic already — anything that puts this neighborhood at risk should be avoided at all costs.

There is no need for this tower. There are no significant coverage gaps and the people who are said to be benefiting from this tower are saying that they do not want this. The only people due to benefit from this tower are AT&T, Starlink and Thomas Ingle, the land owner who does not live in the community and will not be in a position to evacuate in the event of a fire.

AT&T’s argument is that the tower will all be up to county code, and that’s fine. But location matters and it being up to code does not change the danger of the proposed location for hundreds of people that live in this neighborhood.

Another concern is Chris Fillios and his conflict of interest with this tower. Fillios worked for AT&T in high tech sales and pursued implementation of towers just like this one, as well as other AT&T products. He is also one of the county commissioners who implemented an ordinance a few years back to allow these tech companies to place these towers all over Kootenai county, without question. He should not be voting on this conditional use permit, he is not and cannot be unbiased in his decision.

As residents of Kootenai County, our public servants main job is to serve the residents who elected them. Putting us in danger to benefit corporation is far from what they are in office to do.

SHAWNA LAMBERT

Coeur d’Alene