Letters to the Editor 3-17-16

Baffled
EDITOR: I am baffled. Laura Duggan (letter to the editor March 3, 2016) says she is offended by the temporary red signs lining parts of Pleasant Hill alerting people to the fact that a 70-foot antenna tower has been approved to be placed on city property, but she is not offended by the permanent 70-foot antenna tower itself? 
Ms. Duggan says that the tower will be transparent. Being able to see the orchard, vineyard and sky through the metal bars of an antenna, does not make the antenna transparent. This tower can become even more visible if or when additional hardware is added. Yes, that is a real possibility. The FCC requires that cities approve applications for additional hardware to antennas that already exist. This could become more than just a KOWS antenna. 
Ms. Duggan also says that the tower will be on land that is already occupied by an ugly water tower although a better term would be reservoirs. True. However, the reservoirs do not rise above the tree line, can only be seen from the road if you are looking for them, are painted dark green and were well designed to fit in with their surroundings; they are barely intrusive on our rural landscape.
 Ms. Dugan and I agree on two points. We both love our drive to work through our West County rural roads and know KOWS to be a wonderful community radio station. I disagree however, that opposition to this antenna tower is antagonism toward KOWS. I want KOWS to grow and be successful. I want them to get their antenna and be able to be heard far and wide. I just don’t want their antenna to ruin the rural landscape that so many of us of enjoy.
Andrea Hagan Schmitz

Sebastopol