5G Fears Prompt Western Springs Action

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL — Two weeks ago, Western Springs Village President Alice Gallagher saw the biggest crowd at a meeting in her years at the helm. Many wanted to know when the village would specifically hold a meeting to deal with the topic of 5G antennas, which residents fear would adversely affect their health.

In a statement at Monday's village board meeting, Gallagher said village officials heard the community and are acting quickly to address concerns. The board has some power over the aesthetics of the antennas, but federal regulations prevent the village from enacting rules to protect the health of residents, according to the village. The village alone, she said, cannot make a determination on the health effects of 5G radio frequencies.

Gallagher and other village officials have visited Washington to ask federal representatives to give communities more control.

In December, Western Springs received an application from Houston-based Crown Castle for a 5G antenna.

"After meticulous scrutiny, staff deemed the application incomplete, and following the village's written response, it was withdrawn," Gallagher said at the meeting. "To date, that remains the only formal application that the village has received."

Village Manager Ingrid Velkme has been working on the 5G issue with managers from Hinsdale, La Grange, La Grange Park, Clarendon Hills, Brookfield, Berkeley and Riverside, Gallagher said.

Gallagher listed other steps the village has taken in the last couple weeks:

• With the agreement of trustees, Gallagher assigned the 5G issue to the planning and zoning committee and appointed three ad hoc community liaisons to represent the Stop 5G Western Springs & Neighbors group at village committee meetings when 5G is a topic of discussion. The three ad hoc members are Pam Conlon, Moira Zellner and Connie Spencer.

• Gallagher has written letters to the Illinois EPA, the Cook County Department of Public Health and the U.S. EPA, requesting guidance and information on the health impacts of 5G antennas.

• The planning and zoning committee has begun evaluating the services of a qualified lobbyist and environmental consultants to be shared with neighboring towns.

• Village Attorney Michael Jurusik is reviewing the village code and design standards as they relate to 5G. And he is reviewing 5G rulings and pending cases and evaluating legal arguments that may be raised to challenge the validity of the state law limiting towns' power to regulate 5G antennas.

• The village is hosting a town hall meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 13 in "The Corral" at Lyons Township High School's South Campus. The village is inviting county, state and federal representatives, officials from other towns, telecommunications industry representatives and residents to the meeting.

Gallagher said the village officials are prohibited by federal laws from denying any small cell 5G equipment based on health effects.

"We are not a public health organization and cannot determine the validity of the multitude of articles, research and data on the subject," Gallagher said. "Both sides of this issue have cogent research and data to support their position, and until we obtain an official statement from a state, national or international regulatory agency, we cannot take a position on the public health concerns."