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<br />Planning Commission met on July 11, 2007 and recommended approval of the CUP based on <br />Findings of Fact drafted favorable to the applicant. Staff recommends that approval would be <br />contingent on FCC approval. <br /> <br />Mr. Dennis Carpenter, President of Milestone Radio, LLC, stated he and his business partners <br />Dan Peters and Bart Ward have six FM radio stations in Minnesota. The FCC has approved <br />consolidation of studio sites, which is what this building in Ramsey is all about. They like tIns <br />cOl1Unwlity and the growth in tIns area and would like to be part of tills. Tills building would <br />serve their purpose well. It is a 1,800 square foot building that they will fill with new employees <br />and will deliver programming through the Twin Cities and beyond through Central Minnesota. <br /> <br />Cowlcilmember Dehen asked if the broadcasting will be from tills building. <br /> <br />Mr. Carpenter replied yes, the tower is an 80-foot lattice style tower that is needed to beanl the <br />signal to to\vers in multiple locations via microwave paths. There cannot be any flexibility. <br />They use a solid steel ro~ tower and the lattice design allows the wind to pass through; a <br />monopole tower would be flexible. Mr. Carpenter stated Milestone Radio goes beyond the <br />boundaries of Minnesota, and also brings real radio to the continent of Africa with w1filtered <br />news and infon11ation, as well as language and teacillng programs. They also offer the first <br />country radio station in Africa. Milestone Radio is most proud of their effort to educate about <br />AIDS and spends a lot oftime educating men in Africa about AIDS. In the cities where they are <br />located, AIDS has dropped dramatically. Milestone Radio also provides Christian progrming. <br />A lot of the programs for Africa will come from the Ramsey studio. There will be many <br />dignitaries from around the world that will visit the site, including prominent business leaders in <br />this area. This will give Ramsey the opportunity to showcase their community. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dehen asked if people that speak the native language in Africa will be brought <br />into Ramsey. <br /> <br />Mr. Carpenter replied Milestone Radio tries to stick with the English language. He noted there <br />are about 26,000 Africans living in the Twin Cities. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec pointed out that Ramsey will be mentioned quite a bit on the radio and there are a <br />lot of the area people that listen to BOB FM. <br /> <br />Mr. Carpenter stated Milestone Radio has been working with Tim Gladillll who has invited them <br />to participate with the Happy Days Festival. They have offered their services to orchestrate the <br />fireworks to music into a sky concert. They have also helped to put together food vendors. They <br />like working one year in advance and would like to help the City develop tills into a major event. <br /> <br />Motion by Councilmember Look, seconded by Councilmember Jeffrey, to adopt Resolution #07- <br />07-171 adopting Findings of Fact #0800 relating to a request from Milestone Radio for a <br />conditional use pemlit to construct a radio broadcasting antenna and satellite dish at 14443 <br />Annstrong Blvd NW. <br /> <br />City Council / July 24,2007 <br />Page 5 of 19 <br /> <br />P45 <br /> <br />