Not 'Being A Sissy': Hinsdale Leader On 5G Decision

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale trustees this week settled with a company that wants to place nearly 140 5G antennas around town, while residents pleaded with the village to fight.

For years, Hinsdale, Western Springs and Clarendon Hills have lobbied the state to provide more local control on the siting of antennas. But they have been unsuccessful.

At Tuesday's Hinsdale meeting, representatives from Houston-based Crown Castle, which is working for Verizon, were on hand, but did not speak.

For more than an hour, the trustees listened to 5G antenna opponents, who said radio frequency emissions cause health problems.

"None of us favor filing a lawsuit against Crown Castle," Hinsdale resident Jeff Woolley said. "But when I look into my heart, I think there are times when one just fights and supports what's right and ethical."

Like others, Hinsdale resident Yanna Dykstra spoke about the health effects.

In response, Village President Tom Cauley, as he has before, noted that federal and state laws limit the village's powers over 5G antennas. He said the village had limited authority over the aesthetics and siting of the equipment.

"The federal government has preempted us," he said.

"Who cares about the federal government?" Dykstra shot back.

"You can say that, but we have an obligation to follow federal law. That's one of the oaths we took is to follow state law and federal law," Cauley said.

Dykstra responded by saying few knew how to stand up for justice.

"Like I said last time, if enough men would stand up and fight, we wouldn't be where we are today, but everyone is too comfortable and too busy," she said.

She did not explain why only men should join the fight. Two of the seven trustees and the village manager are women.

Western Springs resident Heidi Hanson repeatedly referred to a report that she said backed up the case that the antennas posed health risks.

But Cauley said the report concluded that 5G equipment complies with federal regulations.

Hanson replied, "That's not true."

Pressed on the issue, Hanson acknowledged the report's statement, but said other variables were at play. The safety, she said, depends on the power and height of antennas.

She, too, asked the village to fight the company.

Cauley, however, said if the village refused Crown Castle's request to place antennas, the company would quickly get a restraining order from a federal judge.

"I realize you want us to take the fight, but we really are powerless to do it," Cauley said. "It's not that I'm being a sissy."

Trustee Luke Stifflear, the Village Board's point person on 5G, agreed with Cauley.

"If we were to vote this down, this would cost Hinsdale taxpayers a material amount of money," he said.

Trustee Neale Byrnes asked whether the Crowne Castle representatives could speak, but Cauley said that wouldn't be a good idea.

The board voted unanimously for the settlement with the company.

Cauley said he recognized that residents were disappointed. But he promised the village would monitor radio frequency emissions.

"We did not ask Crown Castle to come," he said. "We live in this town. There will be poles outside our houses just like yours. We are willing to fight, but not on this particular application."