Park County commissioners are defending their decision to block a proposed cell tower in the Wapiti Valley.

Commissioners rejected Horizon Tower LLC’s plans in February, after hearing a slew of objections from area residents. The board concluded that the 195-foot-high tower “would not be in harmony with the neighborhood” and was likely to have “a significant adverse impact.”

However, Horizon Tower sued the commissioners in Wyoming’s U.S. District Court last month, contending that the rejection of the special use permit was not supported by the evidence. The California-based company is asking a federal judge to order the county to approve the project, contending better service is needed in the Wapiti area.

However, in a response filed last week, commissioners generally denied the allegations made by Horizon Tower. The routine, 10-page response from the Park County Attorney’s Office offered little new insight into the case, mostly consisting of standard denials; for example, commissioners dispute Horizon’s assertion that the objections from Wapiti residents were vague and generalized.

U.S. District Court Judge Alan Johnson of Cheyenne has set an initial pretrial conference for April 28; that hearing will map out the future of the case.

—By CJ Baker