By DAVE HAMRICK
Staff Writer

Fayette County commissioners will delay requests for four communications towers until October, following the Planning and Zoning Commission's lead.

The Planning Commission delayed the requests to give its members time to discuss a "master plan" for cellular towers.

As seven cell phone companies compete for Fayette County business, requests for towers from 10 to 500 feet tall are increasing, and they are becoming increasingly controversial.

Planning commissioners will discuss the tower requests Oct. 1, then vote on them Oct. 15. The County Commission will take public comment and vote on the requests Oct. 22.

In other business, the commission:

Approved Tax Commissioner George Wingo's request for an additional office worker. In the current budget, the group had put off the request until mid-year, but Wingo made another request, pointing out that he has one worker on extended medical leave and another will be retiring soon.

Money is available in the contingency fund, said county manager Billy Beckett. "We don't really have any objection to him doing that," he said

Approved spending $9,000 to $14,000 to study sediment in local streams. The study, to be conducted by Piedmont Geotechnical Consultants, will establish benchmarks to help the county measure the effects of development on stream sediment.

The company will conduct borings at six sites, on Woolsey Creek, Antioch Creek, Whitewater Creek, Flat Creek and Line Creek.

Cancelled its Oct. 8 meeting. The commission meets first Wednesdays and second Thursdays, but in October those days fall in the same week.

The group will meet Oct. 7 at 3:30 p.m. and Oct. 22 at 7 p.m.