Verizon Apologizes to Blairsville and BRMEMC
News November 13, 2019
BLAIRSVILLE, GA – Verizon Representative Eleanor Callaghan attended the Nov. 12 City Council meeting to clear up any confusion about the small cell tower initiative and partnerships with Blue Ridge Mountain EMC (BRMEMC).
“I’m here to apologize for any miscommunication that I may have caused in my communications between you and staff. The misunderstanding led to a misrepresentation of our relationship with BRMEMC. Nothing could be further from the truth. Our experience here with the mayor and with staff has been amazing so has our experience with BRMEMC,“ stated Callaghan.
In the Oct. meeting, the mayor relayed to the council that Verizon and BRMEMC weren’t able to work out a deal on attaching the small cell devices to existing EMC poles within city limits.
The partnership was the preferred solution of the city council to limit new poles potentially being placed throughout the city. However, in Oct. that seemed improbable.
However, Fetch Your News contacted BRMEMC and Verizon after that meeting, and both commented that negotiations were ongoing.
Callaghan’s apology addressed the cross-signals and did confirm that BRMEMC continues to work with the organization.
“Everything is going great. BRMEMC has been very happy with sharing information and continuing to be a collaborative partner with Verizon,” Callaghan commended the working relationship between the three parties. She added that the Blairsville relationship is used as a best practice with her other jurisdictions.
Mayor Jim Conley asked when Blairsville would know more about the placement of small cell towers in the city, and Callaghan believes that sometime in Jan. 2020, Verizon could offer placement plans for the poles.
The new poles will be placed in the right of way and not on anyone’s property.
Verizon and City Reach Agreement On Expanding Cell Coverage
News September 4, 2019
Blairsville, Ga – Verizon’s small cell towers and 4G coverage took a step closer to becoming a reality after Blairsville’ Mayor Jim Conley introduced an ordinance to the city council.
After the initial discussion of adding small cell towers in May 2019, Verizon, City of Blairsville, and Blue Ridge Mountain EMC (BRMEMC) have reached an agreement about using existing EMC poles for the small cell towers.
However, Verizon might need to add a pole in the right of way within city limits to ensure accurate coverage of the area.
Small cell towers refer to radio transmitters to assist with cell coverage within the city limits, but as of now, it doesn’t extend into Union County.
“Where would they go? I don’t want one in my front yard,” stated Councilmember Mary Ruth Cook, “I don’t want it just going up willy-nilly. Do we have any say-so where they go?”
Conley responded, “In the right of way and that’s already dedicated, it would be the same if EMC wanted to put a pole there.”
A small cell facility will house an antenna that takes up no more than six cubic feet, and all other equipment will be no larger than 26 cubic feet.
The size of micro small cell towers is approximately 24 inches in length, 15 inches in width, 12 inches in height, and an antenna of no more than 11 inches.
Examples of the units installed on top of a light pole. Provided by Verizon.
“Our approach is that we would like to use the existing infrastructure so utility poles, light poles, and only if we have no other option would we seek to put in new poles. We have agreements with GDOT. Also, we’re working with BRMEMC to collocate on something like this,” commented Eleanor Callaghan.
Callaghan also speculated on the number of small cell towers needed for Blairsville and asserted 15 at the most. However, the project is still in the engineering phase, and no final numbers are available at this time.
Councilmember Tony Dyer asked Verizon representative to speak to the need of this technology in Blairsville.
“It’s so we can densify our network because with all the data usage that people have,” remarked Callaghan, “It shows that we need to improve.”
Georgia Legislature made the small cell tower initiative into law last year, and the city has until October 1st to enact it. The city will receive a three percent fee from Verizon for installing small cell towers in the city.
Blairsville City Council must approve permits for placement in right of way locations.
The ordinance still could change before the October 1st signing date.
Undetermined Number of New Cellular Poles Coming to Blairsville
Community, News October 10, 2019
BLAIRSVILLE, GA – In a 4 to 1 vote, the city council approved the ordinance to collect fees from Verizon for the installation of small cell towers in Blairsville. Verizon confirmed that several new cellular poles will go up across town within the right of ways.
“Verizon designated Blairsville as a site where the cell service is weak at times,” explained Mayor Jim Conley, “The legislature passed a law in regards to small cell services giving them legally the right to come in and place poles in needed areas to put their equipment on.”
The poles won’t be above 50 feet and would have a small cell hardware device.
Originally, the city hoped that the Blue Ridge Mountain EMC (BRMEMC) and Verizon could work out a deal to use BRMEMC poles for some of the devices.
“It was understood in the first reading that we could use EMC poles as well,” said Council Member Tony Dyer.
Dyer asked what happened to negotiations between Verizon and BRMEMC before approving the ordinance.
Fetch Your News contacted BRMEMC about using EMC poles within the city, and they stated that they were still open to working with Verizon, but hadn’t heard from the company since Aug. 13. Verizon’s spokesperson stated that negotiations were still open as well.
However, Verizon told the city council differently before the Oct. meeting. Currently, it’s unclear how many poles or towers will be needed or if BRMEMC will be utilized at all.
The cellular corporation has a meeting scheduled with the mayor later in Oct. to discuss how many new poles will go up in the right of ways throughout the city.
The ordinance passed in the meeting allows Blairsville to charge Verizon for installing small cell towers across the town. According to the law passed by the Georgia Legislature, Verizon can legally install the towers to improve service without the ordinance’s approval.
Essentially, the towers are coming to Blairsville no matter what, but the passage of the ordinance ensures a monetary benefit. The council can’t deny Verizon access.
Councilmember Betty Easter made a motion to pass the ordinance, Councilmember Rhonda Mahan seconded, and Councilmember Mary Ruth Cook voted against it.
At this time, Verizon hasn’t determined the number of new cellular poles coming to the area.
Verizon Wants to Enhance Network Coverage in Blairsville
Business, Featured Stories May 8, 2019
Blairsville, GA – Spokeswoman from Verizon Wireless presented a plan to bring small cell towers into the city to improve the area’s network coverage.
Traffic engineers from Verizon noticed the need for increased network capacity within the community. “The exponential growth or hockey stick growth is putting a lot of demand on the [current] cell towers and [Verizon] would like to pull another tool from their tool kit with small cell towers,” said Eleanor Callaghan, a Verizon engineer.
Callaghan proposed partnering with the city to add small cell towers to existing structures, such as light poles and traffic signs. By installing these towers, Blairsville will have faster wireless service on the 4G network. Also, Verizon will install the towers at no cost and won’t build new large towers unless absolutely necessary.
Example of Verizon’s Small Cell Towers
The minimum height requirement for a pole needs to be 26 feet with a maximum height of 50 feet. The set height requirements serve to keep wireless emissions lower than the general population of the area. The radios are about the size of an answering machine, and the antenna transmits at a low frequency. Verizon operates below the FCC emissions standards.
The small cell towers do not affect other services in the area and would take at least a year to be fully installed.
“Small cells in existing infrastructure would give [Blairsville] faster upload and download speeds, and give you the extra capacity for all connected devices for merchants running transactions and online ordering,” stated Callaghan.
55 percent of homes are wireless only, and the enhanced connectivity allows for faster triangulation of people’s location. The closer signals can improve response times for first responders and create an efficient method for gathering information.
The small cell towers also cut down on search times when people look for entertainment or restaurants on their phones. Also, the towers could bring services like Uber and Lyft to the area since it’s easier to locate people who want to use the service.
Mayor Jim Conley asked, “Do you have a model ordinance that other cities use?”
Callaghan stated that ordinances are not necessary due to the comprehensive nature of the FCC Small Cell Law, but provided the Sandy Springs ordinance and permit process for the city council to review. “We may have to do an ordinance because of our charter,” said Mayor Conley.
Councilman Buddy Moore asked for more information about the need of the towers to review before making a decision.
“I see how this can help us, but I don’t feel like we can give you answer tonight without reviewing the ordinance to see what other folks have put into it because this is all new to us. Mrs. Callaghan if you want to send that ordinance to us again, and we can arrange to have you come back once we review this ordinance,” said Mayor Conley.
City council talks annexation, purchases police equipment
News, Police & Government, Politics March 9, 2018
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. – Annexation of the Conley property on Pat Haralson Memorial Drive was discussed during the Blairsville City Council meeting Tuesday, March 6.
According to Mayor Jim Conley, a developer interested in the property has requested city annexation of the property before proceeding with a development project. From the city limits to the Conley property, a portion of Butternut Creek Golf Course, which is owned by the county, and a stretch of a 1.47-acre property owned by Daniel Davenport falls in line with the proposed annexation route.
While the county has agreed to an easement of the golf course property, Davenport, who was present at the meeting, requested of the city to bring water and sewer utilities through his property before allowing annexation of his property.
“I’m all about annexation if the city sewer and water would pass through the 1.5 acres, which to me is a legitimate path to take (to the Conley property),” Davenport told the council Tuesday. “If (the city is) going to annex my property, I’ll be paying city taxes, so I’ll, of course, want to be able to hook up to the sewer on my property.”
Davenport was told by City Attorney David Barrett if his property was annexed, he would have the right by law to attain water and sewer utilities from the city. However, Davenport explained that in his previous discussions with Barrett, the city attorney told him the city would not provide the infrastructure needed to connect to city water and sewer lines. Davenport further stated that, to his understanding, the city would be extending water and sewer lines all the way to the Conley property. To this, Mayor Conley replied, “No we’re not either … we’re not bringing the sewer to their property. They’re coming to our manhole.”
After further discussion, Councilman Tony Dyer made a motion to withdraw the annexation proposal followed by a second from Councilwoman Betty Easter. The motion failed 3 to 2, with nay votes coming from Councilmembers Rhonda Mahan, Robert Moore and Mary Ruth Cook.
On Friday, Mayor Conley stated Davenport had discussed the situation in the days following the meeting with the owners of Conley property and a possible agreement was in the works, which would clear the way for the annexation.
The council approved two equipment purchases for the Blairsville Police Department. Sergeant Shawn Dyer informed the council of a recent audit of the department conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) in which the GBI recommended the use of departmental phones for city officers as well as the addition of wi-fi hotspot devices within city patrol vehicles.
Dyer explained the phones would be used by full-time officers for official police business. Currently, officers use their personal cell phones for police business while on duty, and GBI, in the audit, claimed this presents a security risk and the possibility of a personal information breach for the officers.
Concerning the addition of the hotspot devices, Dyer stated the technology upgrade will ensure a safer and more effective environment for officers while conducting routine traffic stops. The hotspot devices will provide instant Internet access to the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) database and allow officers to access information of the vehicle and the recorded owner before initially approaching the vehicle.
“(The hotspot devices) could probably save somebody’s life,” Dyer explained, “because right now, if we stop a car, we call in the tag number to dispatch, we pull that car over, we go up and we talk to that driver not knowing anything (of the driver). We don’t get that information back until we sit back there in the (patrol) car after we’ve talked to them, got their driver’s license and all that.”
According to Dyer, six cell phones (iPhones) and eight hotspot devices will come from Verizon at a monthly cost of $564.57.
Dyer also told of the need for a large metal cabinet that can be locked to store evidence or guns in the squad room at the police department. The sergeant stated a large lockable cabinet in the squad room would allow all shifts the ability to store evidence if the evidence room of the department cannot be accessed. Dyer said he found a cabinet suitable for such a purpose for around $2,000.
Both expenditures were approved unanimously.
The council gave approval to proceed with RevoPay as an online electronic payment method for payments of all fees, permits and/or taxes to the city. Last month, the council discussed and approved an option for accepting credit or debit cards for water services payments.
Kaye McCann, city clerk, explained to the council the RevoPay system would allow customers to pay all bills to the city in a lump sum by credit or debit card or by electronic check either online or over the phone. Also, city hall would have access to RevoPay, so that any customers making payments in person would also be able to make payments via those options as well.
According to McCann, there is no charge or fee to the city to use this service; however, a percentage-based fee from RevoPay would be passed along to customers using the service. When asked about the percentage of the fee, McCann explained the fee would likely fall between 3 to 5 percent and that the percentage would be determined over time by the amount of customers using the service. McCann further explained customers using RevoPay would know before the transaction is complete exactly how much the fee is.
Jody Cook, wastewater supervisor, delivered an update of a wastewater issue involving the Aviagen Hatchery, a poultry hatchery facility located near Colwell Detention Center. Last month, Cook reported increases in the chemical oxygen demand (COD) at the treatment plant were discovered in January. At that meeting, he said it was determined pollutants stemming from outdoor wash downs of the hatchery’s delivery crates were the cause of the increase of COD. Cook also stated last month the issue does not pose a health risk to anyone, but rather puts a greater strain on the wasterwater treatment facility.
This month, Cook told the council the hatchery had changed its clean-up policies. “It has made a difference, but I think we’re going to have to do a little bit more there because our readings are still high,” Cook said.
Cook stated officials from Aviagen have been cooperating with the city in an effort to correct the issue and told Cook to inform the hatchery if the changes in their cleaning processes did not resolve the issue. To this, Cook told the board he wanted to do a few more tests before going back to Aviagen since recent rains have disallowed the possibility of accurate testing.
In other business, the council approved a change in the type of envelopes used to mail water bills to customers. The new envelopes will feature a clear window panel on the front of the envelope and, as Mayor Conley pointed out, are easier for mail sorting machines to process.
The council entered into a 12-month contract with Jeff Burks, of Total Geek Tek, for regular IT maintenance and upgrades for all city departments. Burks’ hourly rate will be $40 an hour, and he will service city computer systems two days a week for a total of 16 hours a month, according to the parameters of the contract.
Councilman Tony Dyer stressed the need to move forward with a paved public parking lot, public restroom facility and a greenspace on city property located behind city hall. Dyer stated he would like to see the space, when completed, dedicated to longtime state representative and Blairsville native Carlton Colwell.
Dyer also mentioned the idea of honoring Union County Sheriff Mack Mason at the next city council for the sheriff’s office ongoing cooperation with the city police department.
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