Business
City and Verizon have one more chance to compromise on cell phone pole
The dispute over putting a cell phone tower near the entrance to Riverside Park could be settled in a couple of weeks.
The La Crosse board of public works again has put off a vote on the Verizon plans for a 30-foot transmission pole on State Street, for two more weeks.
That would give city staff more time to work out a possible change in plans with Verizon, which argues that state law permits them to place a pole where it would be the most useful.
Members of city committees have opposed the planned location, mainly because it might detract from the beauty of the park.
City planner Andrea Trane says at this point, the law seems to be on Verizon’s side, as to where it can place a pole.
The communications firm says the tower could be moved only a short distance from the location where it’s being planned now and still be effective, and the city would need a really good reason to have the pole moved.
The public works board will take up the issue again in two weeks.
