Tomorrow evening, representatives with Idaho Tower Co. will host an informational meeting to discuss their desire to construct a 90-foot, self-supporting cellular tower at Galena Summit.
The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 19, at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room at the Ketchum YMCA.
The owners of the Ketchum-based company, John and Jennifer Campbell, have been working on the cell tower proposal for nearly a decade. But last July, Sawtooth National Forest Supervisor Jane Kollmeyer denied the proposed tower.
She based her rejection of the tower on the "substantial impairment" the project would have on the scenic ridge. Galena Summit is northwest of Ketchum near the headwaters of the Big Wood River. The denial was later overturned on technical grounds.
Jennifer Campbell said she hopes to dispel a number of myths during the meeting that she says have been stirred up locally about their proposal.
"I think it will be helpful," she said. "There's a lot that's attached to the issue."
The Galena cell tower, which would be constructed of reinforced steel, is designed to look like a pine tree so that it blends into its natural surroundings. Several years ago, Idaho Tower erected a similar tower at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort on Bridger-Teton National Forest land in western Wyoming, Campbell said.
"A lot of people don't notice it as they ski by," she said.
Campbell said a number of local public safety officials—including Ketchum Fire Chief Mike Elle, Chief Deputy Gene Ramsey of the Blaine County Sheriff's Office and Steve Steiner with the Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security—will attend the meeting.
Opponents of the tower proposed for Galena Summit have said its approval could set in motion the construction of an entire system of cell towers in the upper Big Wood drainage. But Campbell disputed that.
"That is entirely not the aim," she said.
Campbell said she will also discuss the 30-day comment period that Sawtooth officials recently initiated regarding a plan that would make it harder for Idaho Tower to construct the Galena tower.
The rule change officials are considering would further restrict projects that could impair views along the high ridge, a popular destination for local backcountry skiers. The comment period ends March 11.
"It definitely would cause the denial of our project," she said.
Information on the proposed rule change and how to comment is available at the Sawtooth forest Web site.
Jason Kauffman: jkauffman@mtexpress.com
A camouflaged cellular tower at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in western Wyoming is designed to look like a pine tree. The company that erected that tower, Ketchum-based Idaho Tower Co., hopes to construct a similar tower northwest of Ketchum at Galena Summit. Photo by
