SUMMIT TWP — The township supervisors voted to approve the use of a 5G telecommunication tower with conditions at its meeting Wednesday night.

Supervisor Richard Green said according to the township’s attorney, it cannot deny the building of the tower but the board can set stipulations to its use.

“(Vogue Towers) disagrees that it is an environmental hazard ... they agree that if it does constitute a hazard of welfare of the residents, they’ll suspend operations until it comply with standards,” Green said. “If at some point it was determined that this type of transmission is hazardous, any equipment on that tower will be taken out of service.”

Supervisors Green and Willie Adams voted for the tower to be constructed, while Supervisor Larry Osche voted against it.

According to previous Butler Eagle articles, attendees of the January meeting were concerned about the potential tower’s use of 5G telecommunication harming people or animals.

The board tabled the discussion at last month’s meeting with the intention of gathering more information from Vogue Towers and hearing residents’ concerns.

A few residents in attendance objected to the implementation of the tower, citing the lack long-term studies on the effects of a 5G tower. They asked the board if there were stipulations in the zoning codes to deny more towers like this in the future. If there are not, residents asked the board to consider adding such stipulations.

“You’re to care for these residents. If it’s in your power to wait and see how this plays out, I’d ask you to do so,” one community member said. “The stipulations favored the communication tower I noticed.”

The tower would be constructed in summer 2022.