New Cell Tower In Sugar Pine?

Sugar Pine, CA — The Mi-Wuk Sugar Pine Fire Protection District is considering whether to allow the construction of a cell phone tower on district property.

Fire Chief Larry Crabtree says it will be the focus of a special meeting coming up on February 8th. “The purpose of the meeting is for the Board of Directors of the Fire District to receive input, and comments from the public, on the concept of installing a cell phone antenna facility on the district’s property,” he says. “It would provide a small revenue stream to the district, and it would also undoubtedly improve cell coverage up here.”

The district has been in talks with Sunkay Associates about the potential project. The company would facilitate the construction of the tower and try to recruit cell phone providers to rent space. Crabtree says it would not cost the district any money, and could potentially bring in anywhere from $3,000-$15,000 a year in new revenue. Since things are in the preliminary concept stages, Crabtree says it’s not clear how tall the tower would stand.

The February 8th special board meeting will begin at 10am at the Fire Station in Sugar Pine.