The cities of West Lafayette, Crawfordsville and Lafayette are among those in Indiana which have begun legislating to head off the effects of a bill giving sweeping new rights to cell phone companies. The law, which Gov. Eric Holcomb has until Thursday to sign, allows so-called micro cell phone towers to be erected so cell phone signal strength doesn't wane as often. West Lafayette Development Director Erik Carlson told his city's Board of Public Works Saturday that the technology is valuable, but that it has its share of problems. The Board had convened what it called an "emergency" weekend meeting to head off some of those issues, which Carlson and Mayor John Dennis say include questionable aesthetics and the likelihood the towers would be built primarily in densely-populated areas. In a unanimous vote, the Board voted to use a provision in the bill establishing an underground utility district, which will give local lawmakers more say over future permitting and construction. Carlson
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