VENTURA COUNTY NEWS : Meeting to Focus on Radar Tower Proposal : Dispute: Weather Service officials will hear residents’ concerns about the planned upgrade. Opponents have long wanted the structure relocated.

Ojai-area residents concerned about the National Weather Service’s scheduled upgrade to the Doppler weather radar site at Sulphur Mountain are invited to attend a meeting tonight to air their concerns.

The 7 p.m. gathering will take place at the Ojai Valley Unified School District auditorium at 414 E. Ojai Ave.

Weather Service representatives, including Todd Morris, the Los Angeles-Oxnard office’s chief meteorologist, will be on hand to listen and answer questions.

The Weather Service initially planned to discuss the project only at a Sept. 14 Board of Supervisors meeting, but were persuaded to attend the Ojai event as well.

The meeting was arranged by Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley) and county Supervisors Kathy Long and Susan Lacey.

Since its construction in late 1993, some area residents have been hoping to get the 98-foot-tall Nexrad radar tower relocated. Some complain the tower is an eyesore. Others worry about the long-term health effects.

As a result, opponents have formed the Ventura County Citizens Against Radar Emission.

Residents who oppose the upgrade fear that any financial investment in the tower reduces the likelihood that it will be relocated.

The proposed $190,000 upgrade to the tower includes replacing a storage trailer with a more permanent prefabricated 12-by-24-foot metal and stucco building and adding a transition power source so the radar doesn’t go out temporarily when power outages force the system to rely on a generator, according to the Weather Service.

Morris said construction is scheduled Sept. 27 through mid-October. He said the two public meetings are not being held to secure any additional approval, but “as a courtesy to let them know what we’re doing.”

Some high-profile names have been involved in efforts to move the tower. Among them is actor Larry Hagman of “Dallas” fame, who in recent years has raised thousands of dollars in campaign contributions for Gallegly and Long.

Gallegly has filed federal legislation that would require the Weather Service to move the tower.