New tower likely near shores of Seagull Lake

A new tower that will be used to improve communication at the end of the Gunflint Trail is likely to be built near the shores of Seagull Lake, according to Cook County officials.

And while no plan is final regarding the proposed tower on Seagull Lake, Rena Rogers from the county’s management information systems department spoke directly about the project during a Committee of the Whole discussion on Tuesday, Feb. 20 in the commissioners’ room of the Cook County Courthouse.

Rogers was joined by Rowan Watkins from the MIS department. Also speaking about the proposed Seagull tower was County Administrator Jeff Cadwell.

There was concern expressed by some Cook County residents, namely Gunflint Trail resident Jim Raml, about the proposed tower on Seagull.

Other topics discussed during Tuesday’s meeting were dead spots – which are remote areas where radio signals do not reach that could impact communication between emergency management personnel – the future use of towers in Cook County and an update to the county’s tower ordinance. 

Following the committee of the whole discussion, Watkins and Rogers stopped by WTIP and spoke with News Director Joe Friedrichs about these topics.