Gladstone, IL - Our Story

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IL Congress Change Request

Gladstone, IL Our Story

Let us tell you our story of how IL Statute 55 ILCS 5/5-12001.1 has limited our rights. We live in a rural area just on the outside edge of Gladstone, IL. Many families are here as a result of multiple generations calling this land home. Some have started calling it home within the last 10 years because some of the agricultural land was broken up with the purpose of becoming residential. The land is rather sandy so the most successful crop to grow is alfalfa/hay. Everyone knows that you will not become wealthy farming in sand, so the ideal use of the land is for residential and/or hobby farms.

We are all fortunate to say we live by the Henderson County Conservation Area. This is also known by the name Gladstone Lake and even the “Sand Pit” by those really local. This State Park is small but the community is proud to have it. The old railroad created this lake by hauling sand to build the railroad through Henderson County. It then used the water from it to feed the steam engines. The state purchased the land from the railroad back in 1961 and not long ago it celebrated its 50 year anniversary being a State Park.

In 2015 we learned a local land owner, Judy Bielser, is looking to place a telecommunications tower on her property, Rural Rt 132D (+- 600 feet west of Gladstone Lake Road and 1150E). The tower is being constructed by Central States Tower II, LLC out of Wheaton, IL.

This was a shock to several local residents since back in 2012 a zoning variance to relocate a commercial business was denied with Judy Bielser (Rural Rt 132D) being one of those residents strongly opposing. At the zoning appeals board meeting Judy and a couple other local residents stressed the desire to keep the local area all residential. They brought forward a concern for some of the Endangered Species found in the area and also the negative impact to the residential community and its future growth. That commercial business respected the opinion of the local residents and did not challenge the variance denial. “Due process” was granted as a change in Zoning was required so the public was invited to the Zoning Appeals board meeting.

Unfortunately, the tower company and site consultants have a canned response to every concern. Even more unfortunate, local residents cannot even be heard due to our population size. The tower is automated granted a building permit without having to follow any local government zoning rules. The tower companies are not required to have the land “re-zoned”. This is where we need your help! When 7 of the 9 Illinois landowners within a half mile radius say “No”, that should not be ignored. A State Park should also be included in that count. Perhaps tower locations should not be within one mile of a State Park. Of course, some of the larger State Parks (1000+ acres) may want these types of services within their property boundaries; however, the Telecommunications industry should not be the ones who make that decision.

We are very much aware of other towers that exist near Gladstone. Drive approximately 2 miles from this proposed site location east of Gladstone and you will find two existing telecommunication towers on Water Tower Road. This tells us this proposed tower is more about profits than public necessity.

The companies building the towers offer attractive lease payments to lure landowners who have enough space to build a tower. The tower companies have no regard to the concerns of nearby residents or landmarks. It is a shame the site location consultants did not keep driving when they saw the sign “Henderson County Conservation Area”. I discarded the card they sent when I was notified of their interest as I know my father and grandfather did before me.

Nobody disputes the need for digital network to expand its footprint - just not next to a State Park, especially since the majority of Henderson County, IL is open agriculture land, much of it without homesteads.

For many, our land is our heritage. There is a code and standard that we live by and pass along to our children. We, though, cannot preserve this when our voices cannot be heard.