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MA40 Part V (Say What!)

To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: MA40 Part V (Say What!)
From: mbartels@usgs.gov (Mary-frances R Bartels, Computer Specialist, Denver, CO )
Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 12:04:05 -0700
On Wed, 13 Nov 96 23:46:38 UT 
"Joe Spinosa" said:
> I've been thrown a real curve here in the 11th hour.
> 
> Today (11/13/96 -- 3 PM) I decided to call the building department of my town 
> of Concord and start all over again.  After a few menu choices, I got to 
> speak 
> with a real person:
> 
> "Hi, my name is Joe Spinosa, can you tell me if I need a permit to put up an 
> amateur radio antenna?"
> Transfer to another person.  Repeat.
> Transfer to another person.  Repeat.
> 
> Man's voice:  "An amateur radio antenna eh.  I think you are exempt.  How 
> high 
> are you going?"
> 
> Me:  "I'm thinking about one of these crank-up jobs, goes from about 12' 
> cranked down to about 40' cranked up".
> 
> Man's voice:  "Oh, I think you may need a permit for that, let me check".
>                                         ...On Hold...
> Man's voice:  "We require a permit on the commercial users, but for 
> residential I don't see anything."
> 
> Me:  "OK (pause), this thing will probably be cemented in the ground, does 
> that make any difference?"
> 
> Man's voice:  "Like I say sir, I can't see anything listed here for 
> residential use.  I think we exempted ham operators or something."
> 
> Me:  "OK, thank you very much."
> 
---snip---> 
> Personally, I've had enough of this game.  I think my time would be better 
> spent with a shovel in hand, if you get my drift.  If I start construction, I 
> will take the advice of many and photograph or video tape key steps for 
> future 
> reference.  Thanks for those suggestions.
> 
> My guess as to the key areas to photo would be:
> 
> 1) The bare hole with ruler showing depth and width.
> 
> 2) The hole with form and rebar installed (maybe a few rulers here too).
> 
> 3) The assembled tower base plate with rulers lying next to anything that 
> will 
> be sunk into or covered by cement.
> 
> 4)  Photo's right before and right after the cement pouring.
> 
> Anything else?
> 
> Unless, someone can see something wrong here, I'll be wrapping this thread up 
> pretty soon.  Right now it looks like a happy ending.  Many lessons have been 
> learned, and much anti-acid has been swallowed.
> 
> I'll post a wrap-up if anyone is interested.
> 
> Best Regards,
> Joe Spinosa
> KF6CWX
> Concord, CA
---snip---
   I've been watching this thread intensely.  I have a used ROHN 56 FT 
25G tower lying in pieces in my backyard that I purchased this past 
summer.  I live in an unincorporated area, but very much in the 
city/suburbs (just a few miles north of Denver, CO).  Wanting to do 
everything right I called the county building and planning departments.  
I got similar responses from both areas.  Actually building sent me to 
planning and they said that "anything under 90 feet was a use by right".  
The planning guy was not a ham but is ham-friendly.  He suggested I write 
letters to both building and planning and wait for replies.  That way, if 
problems arise later I have stuff in writing.  He also suggested checking 
with my fire protection district.  I haven't done that yet, but so far 
can't find ANY codes or permits pertinent to this project.
   Personally, I'm aprehensive about the whole project.  What with all 
the grounding threads and power and telephone lines that criscross my 
small backyard it seems nearly impossible to to the job absolutely 
"right".  Oh yes, if the tower comes down, if it doesn't hit my house, it 
probably WILL hit a neighbor's house.  I'm thankful to all the folks who 
have brought up insurance issues.  I'll be calling my agent today to see 
what she has to say.
                                                 73,
                                                 ki0dz

     ^     ^                   |      Mary-Frances R. Bartels
      ^ - ^                  --|--    Computer Specialist, 
      (o o)                  --|--    USGS - WRD, NWQL
     {  |  }                 --|--    Arvada, Colorado
        "    \                 |      (303) 467-8022
      |  |    \                |
     <  <   <   )*   |-------------|  mbartels@mailnwql.cr.usgs.gov
                     | o o o [___] |
                     | L L L ( O ) |
                     |_____________|
                        ^       ^




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