City dialed in on cell project

SANDUSKY — Hung up on poor cell reception citywide, especially downtown, Sandusky officials diligently worked with a leading wireless carrier to improve phone service. Megan Stookey, a city project manager with the public works department overseeing this lengthy process with Verizon Wireless, provided some additional information: • The background: "In total, Verizon Wireless was permitted for 11 small cell towers throughout the city in known service dead zones to help improve their 5G service for customers. All towers went through a lengthy permitting process, which started in late 2023." • The placement: "The city worked diligently with Verizon Wireless and its engineers to find the best locations within the right-of-way for their service and do as little disruption to the area of their locations. Construction of the towers and fiber infrastructure started in 2025." • The locations: Here's a look at where all the cell towers are located: — 132 E. Adams St. — 235 Central Ave. — 518 Decatur St. — 1115 E. Farwell St. — 1205 Hayes Ave. (Ohio 4) — 128 W. Market St. — 231 Shelby St. — 801 W. Shoreline Drive — 1225 Third St. — 120 E. Water St. — 632 Winnebago Ave. Note: Crews finished installation work on nine of the 11 towers with work on them wrapping up in 2025 and 2026. They are now activated. Of the remaining two, both are located downtown: West Market Street by Columbus Avenue near the Erie County parking garage and one on East Water Street by Daly's Pub. The one on West Market Street, which has been built, should be activated soon, and construction is ongoing with the one on East Water Street. • The heights and colors: "At the locations (with) completed poles, they are 39-feet tall and brown in color. The two remaining to go downtown are 40-feet tall and black metal in color." • The involvement: "This is not a city project. We permit utility infrastructure within the right-of-way. We are the permitting agency." There is "no cost to the city." Note: It's not known what Verizon contributed to this project. These towers will only support phones on Verizon's network, according to a company statement. In other words, those with different carriers, such as AT&T and T-Mobile, won't notice any changes with cell service in Sandusky based on these towers.