Elmira

Here is the update on the Elmira Cell Tower Case:

The Conditional Use Permit (CUP) applicants include the owner of an 20 acre parcel of land in Elmira. The proposed site is adjacent to Highway 95 and Cindy Lane. One applicant is an independent cell tower prospecting company named Harmoni Towers. The other applicant is Verizon Wireless, their first proposed tenant.

There is strong opposition by a large number of residents and the wireless-aware community.

Thank you to the Wire Idaho community members who are taking a stand!

Here is the sequence of events the Elmira residents have gone through with the county this year:

• February 7, 2024 – First Planning Department hearing.
• February 13, 2024 -The Hearing Examiner approved the CUP.
• March 12, 2024 – Elmira residents filed an appeal request with the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) in Bonner County.
• April 18, 2024 – Appeal hearing was convened by the BOCC.
• The BOCC voted to continue the appeal hearing to August 2nd with a directive to the applicant to provide additional information regarding the ‘necessity’ for the tower.
• The applicant expressed their intention to submit a drive test and were provided 3 months to do so.
• In the meantime the Elmira appellants conducted their own data collection to address the question of necessity and whether any existing cell towers could serve the same purpose (colocation).
• August 2 – When all data were presented to the BOCC, they voted 2-to-1 to approve the CUP, effectively ignoring the appellants’ data.
• August 6, 2024 – The BOCC Decision letter was issued. The appeal was denied and the CUP upheld.
• August 20, 2024 – The appellants submitted a formal request for consideration to the BOCC. Depending on how it rules we may need to go to District Court.

We have a strong case and our data demonstrate that a new tower is not necessary.

Any gaps in Verizon Wireless service coverage in Elmira, such as those we identified on the west side of Hwy 95, may be remedied through the use of existing cell towers. This is known as colocation, an approach that is consistent with the Federal Telecommunications Act.

This legal process is a lengthy and costly endeavor. The Elmira appellants are committed to seeing this process through. To continue the fight we need help to raise $6,000 for the District Court process.

To donate you may write a check to Wire Idaho, 339 Baylor Lane, Priest River, Idaho 83856; notate that your donation is for the Elmira Tower case. We appreciate your support and investment in our community well being. Contact us via email to receive mailing address for check donation.

Joan and Anne are points of contact for more information and clarity on how you can help.

Joan Esnayra is a local Elmira resident organizing the local effort.

Joan’s email address is: thelma.eugene@icloud.com

Anne Wilder Chamberlain is Co-chair of Wire Idaho.

Anne’s email address is: anne.wildthing@outlook.com

Update:

County Commissioners have rejected our Request for Reconsideration. 

Next Step: We filed a petition with the District Court. We still need $3600 to meet our attorney fees.

Next fundraiser: Notify Joan (email above) to find out about our next fundraiser.