Lighting of the star atop the Long Avenue water tower is a holiday tradition in the Village of Hamburg, and Village Board members want to make sure it continues.
But the village has received an offer from a cell company it doesn’t want to refuse. Blue Wireless has offered to pay the village $3,000 a month to put antennas on the Long Avenue and Janice Place towers.
“It’s an opportunity we don’t want to miss out on,” Village Administrator Donald Witkowski said.
But he added, there is a concern about how the antennas would impact the star, which stands about 15 feet high on top of the blue water tower. The star is lit during ceremonies as part of Hamburgh Holidays each year. Residents also can “rent” the star for a birthday, anniversary or special occasion.
The antenna probably could not be seen at night, Witkowski said, but it’s not known how it would look during the day. There are more than a dozen antennas on the side of the water tower, but Blue Wireless wants to place its antennas on top of the tank to reach the proper height, he said.
“That star has been up there for almost 50 years,” Deputy Mayor Thomas Tallman said.
“They said they would be willing to put the star on top of the antenna,” Witkowski said.
The company is offering $1,500 per month per water tower, and could use the Janice Place tower without the Long Avenue one, he said.
Witkowski said he would contact the company to see if they can produce a rendering of how it would look.
Also Tuesday, the board met with Stephen C. Waldvogel,project manager for CRA, the consultant which is studying if it makes sense for the village to consolidate its water system with the Erie County Water Authority. The village currently has a lease-management agreement with the authority. Waldvogel will compare the cost of the continuation of the current agreement with the cost of consolidation.
email: bobrien@buffnews.com
But the village has received an offer from a cell company it doesn’t want to refuse. Blue Wireless has offered to pay the village $3,000 a month to put antennas on the Long Avenue and Janice Place towers.
“It’s an opportunity we don’t want to miss out on,” Village Administrator Donald Witkowski said.
But he added, there is a concern about how the antennas would impact the star, which stands about 15 feet high on top of the blue water tower. The star is lit during ceremonies as part of Hamburgh Holidays each year. Residents also can “rent” the star for a birthday, anniversary or special occasion.
The antenna probably could not be seen at night, Witkowski said, but it’s not known how it would look during the day. There are more than a dozen antennas on the side of the water tower, but Blue Wireless wants to place its antennas on top of the tank to reach the proper height, he said.
“That star has been up there for almost 50 years,” Deputy Mayor Thomas Tallman said.
“They said they would be willing to put the star on top of the antenna,” Witkowski said.
The company is offering $1,500 per month per water tower, and could use the Janice Place tower without the Long Avenue one, he said.
Witkowski said he would contact the company to see if they can produce a rendering of how it would look.
Also Tuesday, the board met with Stephen C. Waldvogel,project manager for CRA, the consultant which is studying if it makes sense for the village to consolidate its water system with the Erie County Water Authority. The village currently has a lease-management agreement with the authority. Waldvogel will compare the cost of the continuation of the current agreement with the cost of consolidation.
email: bobrien@buffnews.com