Wednesday, April 2, 2003
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Wednesday, April 2, 2003 |
County OK's cell phone tower extensionBy JOHN
THOMPSON
Residents in south Fayette County should see their cellphone reception improve after action taken last week by the Fayette County Commission. The commission voted 3-1 to allow Lee Wright to extend his existing communications tower on Chappell Road from 170 feet to 188 feet. This is the second time Wright has appealed to the commission, and 15 residents turned out Thursday night to voice their opposition. "This extension is not necessary with the new technology and receivers. This is done for financial gain," said Ron Cherry. Attorney Charles Ballard, who represented Wright, told the County Commission that FCC requirements call for services to be extended to 100 percent of the residents. Resident John Ward, who lives on Chappell Road, agreed with Ballard. "I've got 16 cellphones and they go dead every once in a while in that area," he said. When it came time for the vote, the commissioners voted the same as they did in January, with the exception of Commissioner A.G. VanLandingham. VanLandingham, who had voted against the proposal, switched his vote. "There's now supporting information for it. The tower on Ga. Highway 85 south will not serve that area," he said. Commission chair Greg Dunn supported the extension, but had a stern warning for Wright: "Don't come back looking for anymore extensions." The vote was 3-1, with Commissioner Linda Wells casting the dissenting vote. Commissioner Peter Pfeifer was absent. He has not attended a commission meeting since last fall when he suffered a stroke-like episode and had to undergo weeks of physical rehabilitation.
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