Politics & Government

Radar Request On Hold for Results of Study

The request for a high-powered radar for the 60-foot tower on the grounds of the Grosse Pointe Club has been put on hold until at least next month as Grosse Pointe Farms officials await the outcome of an independent review.

Grosse Pointe Farms council has put a radar request on hold while an independent expert is analyzing the request, the proposed radar and it's potential impact upon the community. 

The council wants the results of that analysis before making any decisions. Farms city manager Shane Reeside said the study is on-going and he anticipates it'll be complete sometime before the next council meeting.

Originally, the request had been slated to be addressed this week before city council but the evaluation was ordered following the February council meeting when several residents showed up with a litany of questions--most of which were not addressed that night.

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In Februry, the council told U.S. Border Patrol to go meet with the residents before coming before them asking for approval. Border Patrol hosted two public meetings at Grosse Pointe Memorial Church. Attendance was low at the first meeting. 

It was higher during the second meeting. Residents at the first meeting and at least one at the second meeting reported feeling as if they did not obtain any more information than they had prior to the meetings. 

Find out what's happening in Grosse Pointewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The 50,000-watt radar is intended to help survey Lake St. Clair, which is shared by the U.S. and Canada and is used for drug trafficking, person smuggling and other crimes, according to Border Patrol. 

Residents  in the area are concerned about the possible health effects of such a high-powered radar and long-term exposure to it. Border Patrol has said a study was being performed in Washington D.C. related to such information but could not provide specific information about who is conducting the study or where it is in the process. 

This is the second time the radar request has surfaced. It was first an issue in June 2011, when Border Patrol sought permission to install the tower for a high-power camera that is already in place to help survey the lake. 

Border Patrol withdrew its original request because of the bad public reaction but is now back asking for permission.


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