There are two different cell tower issues in the West End, which should not be confused, and the San Miguel Basin Forum is covering both of them.
One cell tower has been proposed in Redvale, and the San Miguel Basin Forum has been covering a series of public meetings that have been held in Nucla, since November. Those meetings were for public comment, so that the Montrose County Planning Commission and the Montrose County Commissioners could hear feedback.
The Planning Commission has voted “no” on moving ahead with the Redvale tower, which is heavily opposed by Redvale residents.
Another meeting on Feb. 12 at the Nucla Community Center will continue this discussion, and ultimately, the commissioners will make the final decision for Redvale.
Last week, the Forum reported that a cell tower will also be established in Nucla, at the top of town, on property owned by the Town of Nucla. The site already hosts a tower owned by NNTC, a local company providing cell phone and internet service. Vertical Bridge is establishing the Nucla tower, and Clearnetworx will be the service provider.
Neither the Montrose Planning Commission nor the Montrose County Commissioners will weigh in on the Nucla tower, because the site is in town proper, not unincorporated county land.
The Nucla cell tower has caused some discomfort among residents, primarily Jane Thompson who lives across the street from the tower site and who did not know about its installation. Her family is also troubled. Some citizens are questioning the town’s transparency, as they didn’t know about the cell tower.
Town officials have told the Forum, however, the Nucla cell tower has been openly discussed in town meetings for the last two years and has been no secret. While there were no announcements or legals — except for one in January which lacked clarity and came from a company called Lotis, announcing a 100-foot “monopole” — there has been a notice hanging in Nucla Town Hall about the new tower.
Some Nucla citizens want to have a meeting with town officials to discuss the issue, especially about environmental, aesthetic and other concerns, and they’d like to have a meeting as early as this week. But, town officials two weeks ago said the Nucla tower lease was signed, and it would be established.
The Forum on Monday asked Town Clerk Melissa Lampshire and also Town Trustee Paula Brown by email if such a meeting were indeed happening this week to further discuss the issue. The Forum also asked whether or not the contract was truly complete and the tower unavoidable. Additionally, the Forum asked about the location change, since some 2024 town meeting documents indicate the cell tower was going to be first placed at the brush dump and gun range in Nucla. It was later moved to the top of Nucla.
“Is it the dip there? And low elevation for signal?” the Forum asked Nucla officials Monday.
Both Lampshire and Brown responded with “no comment.”
