Or fix up the fairgrounds so the 4-H kids and county residents will have a more enjoyable, safer week during the fair, update the Craig Center so the Red cross can hold blood drives there, blacktop the drive so a senior citizen doesn't fall and break a hip. I agree on the tax issues and spending, but this small pittance may be a good thing for the county and the residents.

Like every other "new" form of revenue, this $24,000 will not decrease taxes and it won't lower fees. It will finance more spending. Maybe this money will hire another consultant or finance a convention for half a dozen administrators in Hawaii or help pay for a new car for an administrator every 2 years instead of 3 years. Giving more money to governments is like giving money to a bum. They never do with it what they say they’ll do and it doesn’t improve their condition.

Curlrock,

I'm offended by your comment dated: Jun 24, 2008 at 2:17 p.m.

concernedpatriot- If you where aluminum foil around your head all day that solves the problem. It also keeps the aliens from brainwashing you.

Number one, it is wear not where on your head (you can't even spell).

Secondly, that is so typical of the closed minded thinking that has gotten this country into the messed up situation it is in now.

A person should always research out things before they make a decision. Whether Rense.com is a controversial site or not, there is other information on the internet regarding EMF radiation and cell towers. Try this one maybe:

http://www.emf-health.com/articles-cellt...

And who is to say whether this proposed cell tower emits less radiation or not as they say...but nevertheless, the community has a right to know that this is a concern.

I for one have family that lives near the fairgrounds and I'm concerned.

Just because the company is offering to pay the city doesn't mean it's a good thing.

If the community wants to turn a blind eye to the probability of a health concern than I guess they deserve whatever is coming to them. I for one, would research it out. Too many people are fooled and taken advantage of by our government and big corporations now. The dumbing down of America is obvious. Most of those same people voted for Bush and now they're sorry. I just think that people should weigh all the pros and cons before they are sorry for this. Curlrock just because you think anyone that believes in any conspiracy information is nuts shows just how ignorant you are. That kind of ignorance comes from not being informed. You probably work for a cell phone company or even were one of those that voted for Bush. I can honestly say with a clear conscience that I did not. I sincerely hope that the rest of the readers are smart enough to see through you and see the light.

Please people, do your research. You can't believe everything these companies tell you nor can you believe everything else you read on the internet, but at least keep this in the back of your minds when you make a decision that could have an adverse effect on your health.

i bet there was NEVER a cow who willingly took its place at the front of the line in the slaughter house. it may have appeared that the cow did, but i bet she didnt comprehend completely when explained what the 'slaughter house' meant. she might have thought they were going to enos' house or something. maybe im wrong:)

Oops. I am off by a decimal point. A mil rate of $25 per thousand on $24,000 is $960,000.

Billnewbie, I fail to see the logic. Cell towers locate where they can. It is a cost of doing business. Rent will be paid whether or not it is on public or private property. Thus, you cannot make the argument that people pay a indirect tax if the tower is located on public property.
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The main source of revenue for local government are taxes. Any fees or revenues collected are an offset to taxes. Every dollar collected in fee revenue is one less dollar levied in taxes in a balanced budget.
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TJNJC makes a good point. The numbers become significant over time. Assuming a mill rate of $25 per thousand, the $24,000 is the equivalent of eliminating taxes on $9.6 million of property. Given the size of the tax base (which I think you are trying to get at)it really is not much tax relief overall. But it is a step in the right direction.

Your right again billnewbie (of course you haven't been wrong yet.) What would the county do with the pitiful amount of $291,500 this tower will make (without any additional carrier revenues) over the next ten years.

The total revenue for Rock County in 2006 as shown here, http://www.co.rock.wi.us/Dept/Finance/do..., was $118,972,566. When you reduce the ratio of $118,972,566 / $24,000 to its lowest common denominator you get $4,957 / $1. If you have $4957 in your pocket and you add a dollar, it will not make any difference to what you plan to do. If the county adds $24,000 to its revenue, or even $124,000, its effect will be unnoticed.
The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the population of Rock County in 2006 as 159,153 as shown here, http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/.... $24,000 is 15 cents per person. As I said, a bucket of water dumped in the river.
The cell phone tower is one source of income only. Property taxed at $1000 or less number in the hundreds and perhaps more.

billnewbie- What kind of logic is that? $24,000 is $24,000. With that kind of logic the County shouldnt collect any property taxes on individuals paying less than a a $1000, because, well it's less than a $1000. That's just a drop in the bucket compared to the county coffers.

$24,000 a year or $124,000 a year will make no difference to the county coffers. It’s like dumping a bucket of water into the Rock River. You won’t notice a difference in the water level and it gets flushed out with the rest of the water. Furthermore, the county shouldn’t be in competition with its own residents for income. Although, as we’ve seen in the past, the fairgrounds may be the only place in the area where a cell tower can be built, and we certainly need one.
As for accepting tax increases, that argument reminds me of the cow who willingly took its place at the front of the line at the slaughter house.

Move the fairgrounds to a larger area so it can be better like Walworth and Boone County. Then the cell companies would have room at the old fairgrounds for maybe two cell towers?

billnewbie-If the county doesn't get the deal a private citizen or company will get the tower and the money. Cell phone users will get the cost either way. For the county it is a good deal.

ok, a cell tower in the middle of the fair grounds when there's been discussion in the past about moving the fair else where due to size issues... i'm not discrediting the views of thoses that have expressed concerns, but a low/mid frequency sound that a tower omits is something a person could get used to... what i would worry about is IF the fairgrounds move, what are they going to put there?? things could be much worse... what with the tower seconding as a flag pole, it would add more patriotism and character to our community... no matter what we say, taxes are going to increase... we don't like it, tough... it's life... we just have to accept it...

This cell tower is justified as being in the public interest but its costs are hidden in rates charged by cell phone companies. The payments made by cell phone companies to the county amount to a tax on cell phone users, the vast majority of which are Rock County residents. This isn’t “Manna from Heaven” or a ““sweet” financial deal for Rock County”. It’s just another tax. The lower it is the better.

Will this site be manned by carney bums?

I also know several people who live in the fairgrounds area and have difficulty receiving good cell phone signals in their homes. At this point, the lack of good reception is actually adding an expense for some. Many people who have purchased cell phones would like to eliminate their traditional "land lines" and switch to only cell phone usage which is the growing trend in America and other countries. (In fact many college dorms now don't provide traditional phone jacks.) However, due to limited reception in certain areas--such as near the fairgrounds, citizens are paying for a phone line at an expense of approximately $300 a year. Better reception would equate to savings for many of these people...

Better yet, the County ought to ask Cricket to throw in a great big "holiday" flag into the deal. If memory serves me right, the holiday flag is approximately 20'x24'. That would be an impressive sight flying over the Fairgrounds.

What is wrong with a flagpole on public property? Flagpoles are right up there on the top of the list with 4H, moms and apple pie.

Just what the Rock County 4-H Fairgrounds needs, a new flag pole!

Please share your expertise in leasing rates for cell towers with us. I can't help but notice that while you are cock sure about what is not fair, there is a lack of positive feedback. I am more than willing to learn. Some might say that is the purpose of discussion. Being right all of the time is not a problem that I have to deal with. It is impossible to learn anything when afflicted with that condition. I wish to assure you that I am not attempting to be sarcastic, but sincere in seeking enlightenment.

I'm pretty sure the fairgrounds isn't going anywhere. Hence, the county deciding to have the tower constucted.

Has anybody ever noticed that empty "belltower" or whatever they call it at the Rock County Courthouse?
The taxpayers paid good money for that waste of space to be bricked, now maybe we can put a cell tower in there. It would probably have to be heightened but that could be part of the contract.
Heck, let's go for a work of art at the same time, like the Washington monument.
Think outside the obelisk.

ihavealife
Those were my first thoughts.
The placement of the tower would most likely be ok for the fairgrounds, but if and when the fairgrounds move, The placement of a tower there would greatly reduce the usage options of the site.
I have seen other places in the country use church towers to house cell service with a great benifit to the church. So maybe the church across the street should aproach the cell company, But then the church may have to start paying taxes.

The rate seems rather low compared to other cell sites around this area. The idea that its more aesthetically pleasing is a bonus. I live near the fair grounds and get decent cellular coverage from USCC, Verizon, Sprint, and ATT... I wonder if they're attempting to further segment the cell for additional bandwidth now that more people using the services.

concernedpatriot, you'll need to have a better source than rense.com (aka "conspiracy central"). Not that everything they publish is inaccurate, but they do have a bias.
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ihavealife, the fairgrounds are county property. If they are sold it will probably be to the city for use as a park. In any case the lease will probably have some consideration if the sale requires termination of the lease such as a buyout.

ap2533jvl:

"Though I do not have any facts of profitability".....means you are only guessing as to the market rates the city should charge private industry.

Your annecdotal evidence of "towers in farmer's fields and stop and talk to them only to find out these companies are only paying on average $300/mn" is wholly irrelevant.

First, speaking to 1 or 2 farmers who voluntarily rent their land does not provide any indication of what the rate should be in an urban environment. While you are stopping to talk to farmers who you may or may not know might feed your intellectual curiosity-it does not suffice as an economic impact study.

There are many reasons why cell companies prefer to deal with municipalities rather than individula citizens, the majority of which revolve around land use laws-public v private property.

Gary:

10 years ago is a lifetime in cellular comminucations. Rates would have changed.

I have a question about this ... If or when the fair grounds moves does this mean the cell tower will stay ? If it stays and the city decides to sell the land do the new owners have to keep the tower ? I know at one time the land couldn't be sold because it was will to the city,but wasn't it decided that it could be sold after all these years too off set the cost of the new grounds ?

This is approximately the same rate that my brother was getting ten years ago, but that may have been a bigger tower. Maybe the rates have dropped since then.

I HAD A PONY!!!!!

I say go with whatever Boutwell says is a good deal, or in his words "sweet" deal. He should know what the going rate is and has always steered the county right. He's a great guy!

Does RF hurt ponies?

Concernedpatriot says these towers are similar to the microwave oven risks! Wow I guess I didn't realize just how bad they were...... How many of us has had any bad or for that matter any effects from our microwaves? Jeez I would think Digital cable would be more dangerous.

concernedpatriot- If you where aluminum foil around your head all day that solves the problem. It also keeps the aliens from brainwashing you.

Please forgive the spelling errors.

has anyone considered the fact that cell phone towers emit radioactive frequencies that can affect people? look it up on the internet:

numerous complaints and even epidemiological studies claiming the low-level microwave radiation emitted by these devices are harmful to human health. Low level microwave radio frequenices (RF) are given off not only by the cell phones, but also by repeater stations placed on the roofs of apartment buildings (to eliminate "dark zones" where cell phones might otherwise be unusable), as well as from larger cellular telephone and microwave communications towers.

And there's more information from the Rense.com site as listed below:

"CELL TOWERS - Last but not least, cell tower antennas which operate at power levels of about 10 watts FOR EACH ANTENNA on the tower. Some use higher wattage than that. These directional antennas divide a geographical area into cells of service.

There are many more toys, products and devices too numerous to mention here. We are immersed in a virtual SEA of RF energy, with cell towers as one of the strongest continuous sources of RF energy.

MORE ABOUT CELL PHONES

When you turn your cell phone on, the cell phone company carrier you have uses a computer network connected to all the cell towers, to invisibly command your phone to change to an available frequency. This is why numerous people can talk in a given cell phone area and not hear one another. When a cell phone is on, it transmits frequently to notify the phone company it is actually on. As you walk or drive, the cell system determines signal strength and switches you connection to another tower near you. Even when you are not talking, the phone can still radiate energy. If you have it in your shirt or pants pocket or on your belt, body tissues around the antenna on the phone are being irradiated with RF energy. This is an inescapable fact.

Since this is a multi-billion dollar industry, it's very unlikely the public will be told about the health hazards of cell phones. This is about as likely as the public being properly informed about microwave oven risks. As you read on, you'll see the similarities between the two microwave based technologies."

taken from: http://www.rense.com/general56/rad.htm

I don't know about anyone else, but I certainly wouldn't want a cell phone tower anywhere near where I was living. I think this needs to be researched out further to make sure it is safe.

My mom actually lives near the fair grounds and would love to have a cell tower locatd there. Often times we have reception issues and having a tower close by would take care of that. In fact when I am at fair, I sometimes cannot get a signal, and it's always when I am in real need of calling someone.

A 100 foot flag pole is minor compared to all of the other structures at the fair ground.And as someone said the fences and barns etc.. too me woud be more of a eyesore, but we really don't mind them at all. As for noise, I really never noticed much if anything from other towers I ahve been around. I would think local trafic and fire engine sirens would be much more bothersome than a cell pole.

Or you could use it for the center pole for pony rides.

I think we should attatch a climbing wall to it for the fair and make some really big money.

NIMBY nuts + fairground nuts = no cell tower

I agree. So that neighbor doesn't mind looking at the chain link and barbwire fence, hog and cattle barns, piles of manure and old metal buildings, but that 100foot flag pole is a problem?

MikeF:

Good catch, thanks! I need to get this lysdexia checked one of these days. Whether it's going to the county or city, it's worth closing the deal.

I'm sure there are places or even specific tower locations where it's higher due to the demand:availability ratio, but I found sources from 1999 and 2006 that suggest a fairly stable "going rate" of around $1500/mo.
http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/churc...
http://www.christianitytoday.com/yc/2006...
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I had nothing against the earlier proposal (but then I don't live in that neighborhood). I'm surprised that a 100-foot tower is high enough to be worth the cost, but this is a relatively flat (former prairie) part of town, so I suppose it could work.

Northman, the county will get the money.

The true cost is the loss of ground space at the fairgrounds. If this can be located in an area where it will not impact other activities that occur there, then this sounds like a good idea.

From the city’s perspective, while you want to get the best deal possible out of this, you also don’t want to scare off a paying customer. Squeeze too hard and they’ll find another place and keep their money. Consider that the current revenue for that space is $0, the opportunity cost is $0 (i.e. there is no other revenue lost by virtue of putting the tower in), so $2k/mo is “manna from heaven”. Cash the check, demonstrate to the business community that they can get a fair deal in Janesville, and keep your eyes open for other revenue sources to replace the GM tax base.

Gary and AP: Can you please share how you determined what the rate should be. Thanks.

Gary:

Do you have a link to market rates? Or are you guessing what the market will bear? Or are you agreeing with ap2533jvl because he/she makes an emotional pitch as to what the market rates should be (key word-should).

ap2533jvl-what exactly are the profit margins? Please post a link to your assertion that this is true-today. Towers do not provide more cell use, consumers purchasing more cell phone service adds incremental revenue to cell phone providers-now towers per se.

Others were posting at the same time. Twice as much is probably still too low. Three times as much is likely to be more in line with the market.

They should be paying twice as much.

Why can't the Lutheran Church put it in their spire, and this whole debate will go away?