6/26/2008 - West Side Leader
By Letter to the Editor

To the editor:

Faith Lutheran Church in Fairlawn is in the beginning stages of a building expansion. As part of their “financing” for their project, they are considering leasing part of their property to T-Mobile for a cell phone tower measuring 140 feet high and 3 feet in diameter. The tower is to be built on the edge of their property adjacent to the St. Hilary Church parking area and St. Hilary School soccer fields.

In addition to the negative cosmetic appearance of this tower to the St. Hilary campus, as well as the Camelot condominiums behind their property, the main issue is that of safety ... safety for the 700 children who attend St. Hilary School.

Not only would the tower be a safety issue for children and athletes playing in the vicinity, but the radiation exposure to the children is a definite issue. While some studies have shown no ill effects of radiation from cell phone towers, other studies have not ruled out the possibility of ill effects.

As a St. Hilary School parent and a member of the St. Hilary Parish Pastoral Council, I urge Faith Lutheran to not build this tower for their financial interests and to consider their neighbors and the ramifications of their actions if they do go through with such action.

Jeffrey Borodkin, Granger

Editor’s note: To clarify, the possible construction of a cell phone tower on the church’s property and the expansion of its building are separate issues, according to the Rev. Jean Hansen, pastor of Faith Lutheran Church. Hansen said the money the church would receive from the cell phone tower on its property would not be used to finance the church’s expansion.