September 27, 2023 – In 2001 Cook County adopted a Tower Ordinance to govern the growing proliferation of communication towers across the County. Due to the rural nature of the county and the proximity to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, there was a desire and need to limit visual impacts of towers within the County. Over the past 22 years the ordinance has been used multiple times, from the development of the statewide ARMER radio system to the expansion of cellular coverage. The ordinance forces potential tenants to co-locate on existing towers before developing new sites.

Currently there are roughly 30 communications towers in Cook County. Through the work of the MIS department, there are now two fewer towers in the County.

Over the past year, Radio Communications Analyst Jay DeCoux has worked to create a thorough database and inventory of all tower structures capable of housing communications equipment across the county. In his work he discovered two towers located on public land that had aged out of their usefulness and/or had been abandoned by their owners. By following eviction proceedings, DeCoux was able to make sure these towers were in fact abandoned and could be removed legally.

One of these towers was located on the border of City and County property at the end of Old Ski Hill Road. DeCoux worked with the city to coordinate a tower crew to remove this tower, which was completed on 9/22/23. The other tower was located on the top of Eagle Mountain at Lutsen Mountain and was removed on 9/26/23. The Lutsen Mountain staff was very cooperative in these efforts as it will assist them in the completion of their new chair lift to the top of Eagle Mountain.

Per the Tower Ordinance, tower structures will only be erected when there is a definitive need for services they can provide, otherwise communication services will be consolidated on existing towers to minimize visual impact.

About Cook County, MN 

Cook County encompasses the sovereign nation of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa; the City of Grand Marais; the Townships of Lutsen, Tofte and Schroeder; and unincorporated areas in the easternmost part of Minnesota’s North Shore. Cook County Government values transparency and strives to deliver superior services and programs in a fiscally responsible way. We value the dignity of all County residents and seek to create a community that provides opportunity for all. Many of our offices are in the Cook County Courthouse at 411 W 2nd St, Grand Marais 55604. Other departments and facilities, such as the Airport, Community Center, Highway and Sheriff are located nearby. Call 218-387-3000 or visit: https://co.cook.mn.us  

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Contact:  

Todd Ford, Cook County Public Information Coordinator, [email protected], 218-387-3605