Walden citizens have long complained about the radio tower on Olsen Avenue; the new year will bring not one but two 206-foot towers to the site as a new tower is constructed to replace the old one.
“The purpose is to build a safer tower,” said Michael Raley, a representative of Bible Broadcasting Network, which owns and operates the radio tower.
He said he anticipates construction beginning in January and lasting two to three weeks. The tower currently standing was built in 1969 and has deteriorated to an unknown level of safety.
“They’re going to have to either make it safe or replace it to make it safe,” said Mayor Peter Hetzler, noting the lack of an option on behalf of the town to effectively make BBN cease the tower’s operation and existence.
Since the tower was built prior to the town’s founding and therefore ordinances, it is exempt from zoning requirements that structures be no taller than 55 feet. It was thought that should the tower reach a state of such degradation that it became structurally unsound and required replacement, it would no longer be grandfathered under the ordinance and would instead become subject to its rules.