Mequon Republicans whine about "free market, small government, deregulation" of cell tower in their neighborhood. Poor babies.

Heavily Republican strongholds like Mequon and Waukesha are now feeling the pain of their own party’s gifts to big business, and it’s coming at their own expense. Maybe they just weren’t paying attention when they gleefully voted against those damn Democrats?

Scott Walker signed into law a Republican bill that let wireless providers do whatever they wanted with their cell towers, in the name of free markets, streamlining regulations and smaller government. Suckers...:

The new regulations require municipalities to rule on a wireless tower permit application within 90 days or the application will be considered approved … local governments may not enact ordinances prohibiting the placement of wireless towers in particular locations, and they may not impose environmental testing and monitoring requirements for radio frequency emissions. Local governments can no longer deny wireless tower permits solely for aesthetic reasons, limit the height of towers to under 200 feet, or require that antennas and structures such as water towers be placed on public property. 

Mequon conservatives are  now experiencing for themselves how small government works, and it's not working out like they thought. jsonline:  

Cellphone tower plan stirs concern among Mequon property residents: Plans for a 120-foot cellphone tower in Mequon are being opposed by some residents who say it would lower their property values and could be dangerous, even if it boosts wireless coverage in the area ... under state and federal laws they couldn't prevent SBA from signing a deal with a private landowner.

"There's really no stopping it," said Ald. John Leszczynski. "They're going to put up a tower where it needs to go up. That's the bottom line." 

Waukesha...pretty much the same thing...

Patch: A proposed cell phone tower that could bring between $30,000 and $70,000 annual revenues to the School District of Waukesha has angered area residents because it would be built near the playground at Bethesda Elementary School, WISN 12 News is reporting. Residents at a meeting spoke out against the 100-foot-tall AT&T cell tower because of health concerns, according to WISN 12 News.

Or this story reported back in October of 2013:

WISC: A lawsuit filed by 21 property owners likely won’t delay the construction of a cell tower at the Sauk Prairie High School athletic field … an attorney for Verizon has notified (the citizens) the company intends to move forward with the tower’s construction despite the lawsuit. “We have no further information at this time,” Verizon spokeswoman Andrea Meyer said when asked about the company’s plans.

Can you imagine your government saying "we have no further information," take a hike? What changed recently without any fanfare at all (except here at Democurmudgeon)?

The village of Prairie du Sac Plan Commission’s said their hands were tied by a new law signed by Gov. Scott Walker this summer that limits municipalities’ authority over the placement of cell phone towers. 

Verizon says screw you to Prairie du Sac residents, Cell Tower at High School going in anyway.

You might want to change cellphone providers after this...

The private taking of our communities got a huge shot in the arm after the Republican legislature quietly passed a bizarre corporate giveaway in of our last state budget. 

In what is just a glimpse of the future under Republican control, cellphone businesses have just been given complete control over our local governments, with no requirement to respond.

Beautiful isn't it, and safe too.

WISC: A lawsuit filed by 21 property owners likely won’t delay the construction of a cell tower at the Sauk Prairie High School athletic field … an attorney for Verizon has notified (the citizens) the company intends to move forward with the tower’s construction despite the lawsuit. “We have no further information at this time,” Verizon spokeswoman Andrea Meyer said when asked about the company’s plans.

Can you imagine your government saying "we have no further information," take a hike? What changed recently without any fanfare at all (except here at Democurmudgeon)?

The village of Prairie du Sac Plan Commission’s  said their hands were tied by a new law signed by Gov. Scott Walker this summer that limits municipalities’ authority over the placement of cell phone towers.

Perhaps a few of these property owners were Walker supporters…still not getting a clue?

Property owners contend the law is invalid because it violates a “home rule” provision of the state Constitution.

Does the Walker Authority pass anything that doesn't appear to violate the state's constitution?

Republican stronghold Waukesha angry over GOP law allowing cellphone towers anywhere.

Remember my post about a new law that gives cell phone providers the freedom to locate their towers anywhere they want, regardless of citizen objections?

jsonline: Local governments can no longer deny wireless tower permits solely for aesthetic reasons, limit the height of towers to under 200 feet, or require that antennas and structures such as water towers be placed on public property. local governments may not enact ordinances prohibiting the placement of wireless towers in particular locations, and they may not impose environmental testing and monitoring requirements for radio frequency emissions.

Well, guess who's up in arms about the new law? Are they the same low information conservative voters who knew nothing about its passage? Did they hear anything about it on their local talk shows? No. Welcome to your ideological Utopia, Waukesha.

Patch: A proposed cell phone tower that could bring between $30,000 and $70,000 annual revenues to the School District of Waukesha has angered area residents because it would be built near the playground at Bethesda Elementary School, WISN 12 News is reporting.

Residents at a meeting spoke out against the 100-foot-tall AT&T cell tower because of health concerns, according to WISN 12 News.

Cell Tower in Sauk Prairie showcases corporate control over local Officials, thanks to Walker Authority.

Sauk Prairie is about to experience what Scott Walker calls "leading." That is, not listen to a few "loud protesters," and do what's best for business.

The wireless lobby got everything they wanted in the recently passed budget, with no debate, surprising cities across the state. Suddenly, as the cities found out, they were about to lose the revenue generated by cell towers on public property, not to mention where those towers could be built. Cellphone towers could now go anywhere, literally anywhere, statewide. From WISC:



That's the power of lobbyists. It's interesting to note, roundabouts don't have lobbyists.

When it comes to roundabouts, a Republican State Representative wants to give local control over where and whether they can be built, taking the planning away from the state transportation department who is required to take public comments and suggestions.

Just the opposite of those unsightly, radiation producing cell towers, where telecom lobbyists can override any local government action. Here's Action 2 coverage:



Basically, cities can now ban putting in life saving roundabouts, but can't stop the installation of dangerous radiation producing cellphone tower in a neighbors backyard.

Welcome to Walker's Wisconsin, the grand supporters of property rights?