Safety Issues Raised About Proposed Tallest Radio Tower

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: Safety issues raised about proposed radio tower : McHenry County College would be site of world's tallest free-standing structure of its kind : By Amanda Marrazzo | Special to the Tribune. : February 26, 2009 : --------------------------------------------- : Federal aviation officials have raised concerns about plans by a company that wants to build the world's tallest free-standing communications tower on the McHenry County College campus in Crystal Lake, a company owner said this week. : John Maguire, an owner of Oklahoma City-based BMB Communications Management LLC, said he has asked the college's board to delay consideration of the proposed tower deal until his team can resolve Federal Aviation Administration concerns. : BMB Communications Management has offered to pay at least $6 million to the college for 3.67 acres on which it would build a 1,500-foot-tall broadcast tower. : The proposed tower would be slightly taller than the 110-story Sears Tower, and Maguire said it would be the tallest self-supporting structure of its kind. : Other types of communication towers are supported by guy wires, but using guy wires would require a larger parcel, Maguire said. : The proposed tower would be used by four FM radio stations, Maguire said. The college would get another $1 million in the deal, if the company were to find a fifth radio station. : The site was chosen because it would allow the four stations to reach about 3 million listeners in northern Illinois, Maguire said last week at a special meeting of the college board. He declined to name the radio stations. : "[The tower] will bring millions of dollars to the community," Maguire said. "I am not going to sell the tower on that, but that is the fact." : Approval by the college board is only one step in what likely would be a lengthy review. BMB Communications also would need approvals from the Crystal Lake City Council, the Federal Communications Commission and the FAA. : The FAA has raised concerns because the proposed tower would be in airspace that pilots at Lake in the Hills Airport use if they miss their approach to a landing and have to pull up and try again, Maguire said. : He said he believes the airport could change its procedures and order pilots to circle in another direction. But he wants the college board to delay until next month a vote on the deal. : College board members have asked about safety issues, including whether the tower would pose any danger if it were to topple. : "This is a profound choice for the college," Trustee Scott Summers said at last week's meeting. "Six million looks good on paper, but we just don't know if it's a good deal. This is the tallest tower of its type in the world."

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