Afton: Neighbors Oppose 'Pine Tree' Radio Tower

Even if it does look like a pine tree, neighbors don't want to be next to a public-safety transmitter Washington County wants to put on a 1.6 acre plot in their neighborhood. Residents Frank and Susan Sando asked Washington County commissioners to tour the spot where the sheriff's office wants to construct a tower. "Nine other property owners turned it down and now we've got it in our back yard," Frank Sando said. Last month, the sheriff's office, which had previously proposed a 190-foot tower at a different Afton site, submitted plans to build a shorter tower designed to look like a pine tree. The tower is one of 14 planned for the regional digital radio system. Washington County will spend $12 million on the system to dedicate a single frequency to police, fire and medical personnel. The County Board voted this week to extend the deadline for environmental review