By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Midwest Energy is requesting a special use permit to build a self-supporting telecommunications tower at 13th and Canterbury Streets. The Hays Area Board of Zoning Appeals will consider setting a public hearing for the request during its meeting Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 8:15 a.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.

An equipment shelter would also be built at 1330 Canterbury Drive, the northeast corner of the intersection and south of the Midwest Energy building.

According to Timothy Flax, Midwest Energy Vice President Information Technology, the 150-foot tower would be erected without guy wires in the northeast corner of the vacant lot, which is owned by MWE.

The purpose of tower and equipment building, Flax said in the special use application, is to “facilitate data and voice telecommunications between Midwest Energy’s corporate office and its numerous remote offices, service centers and substations in its 41-county service area.”

A memo from the Hays Planning, Inspection and Enforcement Division said Midwest Energy has taken the “‘fall zone’ from adjacent properties into consideration even though there are no requirements for such a setback or fall protection.”

The property is zoned C-2, General Commercial and Service District.