A last-minute outpouring of public disapproval Monday prompted the Cape Girardeau City Council to reject a request to build a 120-foot cell phone tower on Thomas Drive in central Cape Girardeau.

Residents Larry and Jean Underberger of the 1100 block of Patricia addressed the council in opposition to the tower and presented a petition of 50 signatures of local residents who also opposed the project.

The Underbergers said they only learned last week that the tower was proposed to be built, by noticing signs posted on Legion property signs so small, they said, they had to get out their car to read them.

Larry Underberger cited studies by groups such as the World Health Organization and the National Cancer Institute questioning the health effects of exposure to the radiation emitted by the cell towers.

Property kiss of death'

He also said real estate agents term the structures to be "the kiss of death" to the property values of neighboring residences.

Citing the closeness of Clippard Elementary School to the proposed building site, Jean Underberger told the council that the possible health risk to students "just isn't worth it."

Councilman Frank Stoffregen questioned Terry Baller, a radio engineer representing Southwestern Bell, asking why existing cell towers within the city are not being used for the project. Some of the towers have the capacity to handle equipment from multiple wireless providers.

Baller said the existing towers are not in prime locations to patch fuzzy areas in Southwestern Bell cell coverage.

The corporation wants to target the high volume of traffic generated on the Southeast Missouri State University campus, he said.

The Louis K. Juden American Legion Post 63 had entered into an agreement with Southwest Bell-Cingular Wireless to lease the property at 2731 Thomas Drive and to build the tower.

Stoffregen asked the council begin re-examining the city's ordinances regarding notifying surrounding residents of proposed construction.

CAPE GIRARDEAU CITY COUNCIL

Action Taken

Monday, April 2, at 7 p.m.

401 Independence

Study session at 5 p.m.

Public hearings

• Approved a request by the Cape Girardeau Church of God for a special-use permit for child care through the Early Head Start Program, at 624 S. Ellis St.
• Approved a request by the Christ Evangelical Presbyterian Church for a special-use permit for church signage at 3037 Lexington Ave.

Consent Ordinances

(second and third readings)

• Authorized the city manager to execute an agreement with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission for an on-system bridge replacement and rehabilitation program.
• Authorized the mayor to execute a quit claim deed to Southeast Missouri State University for the New Madrid Street realignment.
• Authorized an ordinance accepting general warranty deeds, permanent drainage easements, temporary construction easements, and an ingress-egress easement from Armstrong Heritage Inc., Midamerica Hotels Corp., Edward L. and Lurlyne L. Snider, and the Cape Girardeau School Board for the extension of Southern Expressway and the realigned Silver Springs-Mount Auburn intersection.
• Authorized an ordinance amending the city code repealing certain no parking zones on Broadway and establishing new no parking zones on Broadway.

Resolutions

• Authorized the city manager to execute an agreement with Brotcke Well and Pump Inc. for the Cape Rock Water Treatment Plant expansion and alluvial well field construction, well drilling Phase I.
• Authorized the city manager to execute an addendum to the Rodney Street Design Addendum to the General Services Contract of Oct. 5, 1998, with Bowen Engineering and Surveying.
• Authorized the city manager to execute an agreement with Tom Beussink Excavating Inc. for the New Madrid Street Project from Perry Avenue to Henderson Avenue.
• Adopted a resolution fully endorsing the efforts of the local Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Committee and the Nov. 23, 2003, bicentennial celebration of the Lewis and Clark Expedition's visit to Cape Girardeau. Also authorized the application for a Missouri Department of Transportation grant to build the Committee's Red House Interpretive Center.

Appointments

• Appointed Dennis Bess, Felix Kinsley, John Schneider and Steven Peel to the four seats on the Historic Preservation Commission that are set to expire on April 16.
• Appointed Mark Strickland to the one seat on the Board of Appeals opened by resignation and set to expire June 4, 2002.