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Sisters, Oregon
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Sisters cell phone tower near completion
By Jim Cornelius

After months of debate and concern about impact on views, a cell phone tower is near completion at the Sisters sewer plant.

Sprint Communications will have the top spot on the tower. According to a Sprint representative, the company expects to be "on the air" by November 30.

The City of Sisters inked a deal with the tower locating company, Spectrasite Wireless Towers, Inc., to allow construction of the cell phone tower.

The Sisters City Council agreed to a lease stipulating that Spectrasite will pay $1,500 per month base rent and an additional $600 per month for each service provider that takes a space on the pole.

The lease covers a five year period, with automatic renewal unless the city opts to renegotiate or terminate the lease.

The tower will be no more than 120 feet tall, with a lightning rod and a red aircraft beacon. The tower is nestled amid the tree line in an effort to minimize visual impact.

The five-year termination option was important to councilors because it allows the city to get out of the deal quickly if the tower proves an eyesore or if the technology is found to have negative health effects.

Negotiating an agreement was a long and difficult process.

The city hired a consultant to advise the city council on the options available to accommodate wireless technologies and what fees would be appropriate.

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