No one guessed months ago there might be debate about building a new radio tower in Eastside for Marshfield High School's broadcast program. But there was.

Residents near the Eastside boat ramp didn't want a 160- to 190-foot-tall tower near their homes. Others didn't want to look at it on the western horizon.

On Thursday night, commissioners with the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay moved toward a compromise with neighbors. They opted not to allow the Coos Bay School District to build the tower near the boat ramp. They also turned down residents' requests to allow the tower on the northwesternmost point, farthest from homes, because it might be in the way commercial development. Instead, they opted to allow the district to place the tower in the center of the port's 114 acres of peninsula property, which is marshy brushland now. The tower itself would be fenced, held in place by four guy wires anchored about 120 to 150 feet from its base.

Commissioners Jerry Hampel, Caddy McKeown, Brady Scott and David Kronsteiner voted “yes,” while commissioner Dan Smith was absent. They said little but did want to know about possible signal interference problems with neighbors' phones, TVs and Internet.

“It would be our intent as a school district to work with anybody to take care of it,” said district Business Manager Rod Danielson.

Those problems can be solved individually, should someone pick up a signal from the 1,000-watt station, he added.

One resident, Scott Frasieur, did speak up, saying he learned about the project the day before and had missed news stories and previous meetings on the issue.

“I just ask you guys to do a better job informing people about these things in the future,” he said.

Even with the port's unanimous approval, the site's not finalized. The School District could find another one. For this site, it must apply for a conditional use zoning permit, according to port Executive Director Jeff Bishop. That issue would go through the public hearing process with the Coos Bay Planning Commission.