[BCNnet] New Communication Towers for Cook County Sheriff's Dept.-Suggestions

[Emil J Biedron]

In previous emails, it was mentioned that the Cook County (IL) Sheriff's
Dept. is installing a new communications system.  Twenty towers ( 240 ft
to 260 ft ) will be put in place throughout the county. Some are 
already erected, others are scheduled for completion sometime in 
Aug. 2003.  Six of the towers are on Cook County Forest Preserve
District property.  

We talked to Ken Jason, Director of Communications for the Sheriff's
Dept. and expressed our concern about birds colliding with the towers. 
We mentioned that the tower located in Palos at the Sag Valley
Headquarters, on the south side of McCarthy Rd. about one or two blocks
east of Will-Cook Rd., is very close to the Osprey habitat at Bergman
Slough, Tampier and other ponds. He said the towers have no guy wires
and the lighting is designed with bird safety in mind.  He also
mentioned that there have been no bird collisions at any of the new 
towers.  Since the towers are surrounded by chain-link fencing,
monitoring is accurate with minimal interference from scavengers.

Mr. Jason is very understanding about the concerns of the birding
community and will welcome suggestions about postponing the completion 
date of the tower near Bergman Slough, so as not to frighten away the
Osprey.  Additionally, if any of you have any information to share with 
him on new technology or research available now or even as it becomes 
available in the future, which would make the towers safer for the
birds, contact him as soon as possible at:

		Ken Jason
		Director of Communications
		Cook County Sheriff's Police
		(773)-869-6585
		kjason@cookcountysheriff.org
		


-- 
Gail & Emil Biedron
(708) 448-3607
ebiedron@mindspring.com