Summary
The meeting addressed concerns regarding cellular coverage in Leelanau Township and proposed the construction of a new telecommunications tower. A report on existing cellular performance was reviewed, which highlighted significant gaps in service quality. An option and lease agreement with The Towers, LLC for the site of the new tower was also discussed.Public Comments
No specific public comments or speaker names were mentioned in the reports.Infrastructure Projects
A cellular coverage study was conducted at various locations within northern Leelanau County, evaluating the network performance of three cellular providers across 14 test locations. Key findings indicated: - Usable download speeds at some locations, but significant latency and packet loss affecting overall reliability. For example, one location experienced up to 98.9% packet loss. - The proposal to construct a 199-foot communications tower at Braman Hill Recreation Area was put forward by The Towers, LLC, intended to improve coverage in poorly serviced areas. The tower is designed to accommodate Verizon's needs and potentially allow for additional co-locators.Next steps:
- The lease agreement outlines the terms for constructing and maintaining the tower, along with the responsibilities of both parties.
- Verizon Wireless provided evidence of the necessity and projected improvements in service with the construction of the proposed tower, including the provision of stability for emergency communications.