Elks tower toppled

The long saga of the proposed cell-phone tower to be placed next to Lindo Channel, on property owned by the Elks Lodge, finally came to an end Tuesday (Nov. 6), when the Chico City Council voted it down, 4-1 with two disqualifications.

The tower’s fate had been precarious for some time, ever since November 2006, when the council approved the use of light fixtures at the nearby Hooker Oak ball fields for cellular antennas, obviating the need for another tower in the area. But a citizen group sued the city over that decision, and the Elks tower was kept on hold until the lawsuit’s fate was known.

This week, City Attorney Lori Barker said that a settlement agreement had been reached. Not all parties had signed it, but they were expected to do so soon, she said.

Councilman Larry Wahl, a consistent supporter of the Elks tower, once again argued for it, saying it would increase safety in the area, would be a positive economic development and would generate money for the Elks, who do good work in the community.

For more on Tuesday’s meeting, see “City Council".