Baileys Harbor Votes for Broadband Ordinance

Baileys Harbor Town Board Chair Don Sitte announced at the town’s Nov. 13 meeting that he will not seek re-election in April for the other elective position he holds, Door County Supervisor for the 19th District.

“I thank everybody for their support,” Sitte said at the meeting, adding that he will have spent a total of 10 years on the Door County Board of Supervisors.

“I just think it’s time to move on,” he said.

Anyone interested in running for the position can view the requirements on the Wisconsin Elections Commission website at elections.wi.gov.

Tower ordinance adopted

The town also voted to follow in the footsteps of the towns of Nasewaupee, Jacksonport and Liberty Grove by having its own broadband tower-siting ordinance.

Kevin Voss of Door County Broadband was in the audience to talk about working with those other communities and why they felt it necessary to have an ordinance. Specifically, the communication tower ordinance passed by the Door County Board of Supervisors in the fall of 2015 is why towns have felt the need to create their own ordinances.

At the time of the 2015 vote by the county, Voss warned the county that if they passed the measure requiring a $500 application to build a tower, it would create a situation where municipalities, in their desire to provide residents with broadband service, would have to create their own tower ordinances to supersede the county regulation. Two years later Baileys Harbor becomes the fourth town to do so.

“I just feel like the need is there and we should offer an expansion of services,” said Supervisor Roberta Thelen.

“I think it’s a good thing for our town,” added Supervisor Bobby Schultz.

Supervisor Peter Jacobs said he would feel more comfortable if he had more time to look over the proposed ordinance, until it was pointed out to him that he said the same thing on the issue at last month’s meeting.

Sitte moved to adopt the ordinance and it was approved. The ordinance will allow Door County Broadband to install its small broadband towers, with an application cost of just $100.

Voss also revealed that he recently bought the property in the town at the intersection of county roads EE and F from the McMahon family, owners of Door County Brewing, which at one time was going to build at that location. Voss said Door County Broadband will move to that location.

Town will research ATV/UTV trails

The town also discussed, at the request of town resident Joe Swanson, creating ATV/UTV trails, as a number of Southern Door communities have done, most recently Forestville. Town staff was tasked with investigating the ordinance passed in Brussels and a route map for Baileys Harbor.