Lake of the Woods County Board of Adjustment/Planning Commission Meeting 7:00 P.M. on February 5, 2020 

Tom Mio opened the meeting at 7:00 pm with the following member present: Marshall Nelson,  Dave Marhula, Scott Head, Wes Johnson and Ken Horntvedt. Members absent: Reed McFarlane Others present were: Land and Water Planning Director Josh Stromlund.  

Introductions of Board of Adjustments/Planning Commission members took place. 

Approval of the Agenda:  

Motion to table Preliminary Plat until the next meeting, removing it from today’s agenda Motion to approve agenda – M/S/P Marhula/Horntvedt 

Approval of Meeting Minutes: January 8, 2020 

M/S/P Horntvedt/Nelson 

Conflict of Interest Disclosure: 

– None 

Board of Adjustment – New Business 

– Consideration of Conditional Use Permit #20-02CU by Powder River  Development Services, LLC: the NE4NE4 Less Deeded; NW4NE4, Section  Nine (9), Range One Hundred Fifty-eight (158) North, Range Thirty-one (31)  West – Parcel ID#: 43.09.11.000. Applicant is requesting a Conditional Use  Permit as required by Section 401-C of the Lake of the Woods County Zoning  Ordinance, to operate a commercial communications tower in a Rural Residential  District (R2). 

Blair Ransom of Powder River Development came forward to explain the request. The request is  to place a cell tower on Tom LeVasseur’s property. He explained that this is a part of nationwide  effort to place cell towers to aid in first responders.  

Discussion between Mr. Ransom and the Commission ensued. They discussed the height of the  tower, guyed wires, lights and placement.  

Mr. Mio opened up the meeting to public comments. Members of the public expressed  opposition to the request. They expressed concern over placement of the tower, property value  and health concerns. Alternate tower sites were proposed by the public. Two letters from the  public were read into the record in opposition to the request.  

Motion to Table the request: M/S/P Marhula/Nelson 

All in favor, none opposed. Motion passes. 

With no further business, Mio entertained a motion to adjourn the meeting.  Adjournment: M/S/P Nelson/Horntvedt