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Cell Phone Tower Flagpole Gets Static In Sarasota County

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Some Manatee County officials want to honor veterans with a cell phone tower disguised as an American flag, like this one in St. Augustine. It would be on Anna Maria Island near Coquina Beach.

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By FRANK GLUCK

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Published: September 4, 2008

What does lousy cell phone service have to do with honoring this nation's veterans?

Usually, nothing. But some county officials want to link the two concepts by resurrecting a controversial plan for a veteran's memorial on the south end of Anna Maria Island, near Leffis Key.

The memorial's focal point would be a cell phone tower disguised as an American flag of still-undetermined height. The flag-tower, backers of the project say, would honor vets but also provide improved cell reception in an area where it is now weak.

But the idea is generating mixed reviews from Manatee County veterans, who remember the bitter fight over the plans nearly a decade ago.

Some say anything that honors veterans is always a good idea.

"Anything to salute the vets, because they're out there now risking their lives," said Michael Clinesmith, commander of the VFW Post 10141. "I don't see anything wrong with that."

But the location of the memorial would not exactly be quiet and contemplative, some say.

The proposed site is in Bradenton Beach along the island's main thoroughfare, Gulf Drive. The entrance to touristy and busy Coquina Beach is across the street.

The original plans for a county veterans memorial were debated, then dropped, in 2001 after veterans and environmentalists battled over its proposed location.

Some wanted to build the memorial on the scenic Leffis Key, but were derailed by the county's Audubon Society, which complained it would disturb animal life on the nature preserve.

A new plan emerged to build it just outside the preserve, the same location now being proposed. But some veterans balked at the idea because of its proximity to Gulf Drive traffic.

The concept has sat on the shelf ever since.

James Kissick, who led the last effort to build in the nature preserve, plans to lead the charge against this current site.

"You can put the monument anyplace you want, but not somewhere that is a profound betrayal and insult to the veterans of Manatee County," Kissick said.

That kind of talk has prompted the Manatee County Veterans Council to stay out of the fray. Members do not mind the memorial site; they just do not want to get into another bitter fight over it, said council co-chairman Bill Field.

"I'm not going to be involved anymore," he said. "Personally, I think it would be a wonderful thing to see that flag."

County Commissioner Carol Whitmore, a booster of reintroducing the project, bills it as a long-overdue tribute to the county's veterans.

Plus, she said, cell phone service on the south end of the island is abysmal.

"This may be a way to kill two birds with one stone," she said.

The County Commission would have to approve the flag because the site is county property. Commissioners may take up the issue this fall.

Preliminary renderings estimate the project will cost taxpayers between $13,000 and $27,000. Cell phone vendors would build the tower, which may cost several hundred thousand dollars.

The county would likely collect a few thousands of dollars per month in rent from the cell phone providers.

Several companies have expressed interest in the project, said Assistant County Administrator Karen Windon.

Bradenton Beach Mayor Michael Pierce is also supporting the plan. "I think there's a lot of veterans that want a memorial," Pierce said. "I don't think it's a bad spot."

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