The problem of not having a town attorney on hand became painfully evident at last week's Tyrone Planning Commission.

Instead of making a decision on a controversial internally lit sign request, the commission deferred the matter to the Tyrone Town Council. Commissioner Paul Letourneau said he wanted a legal opinion on the issue before he made a decision.

Salim Ali had asked the commission to approve an internally lit sign for his Texaco station at the intersection of Senoia Road and Palmetto Road. Ali showed the commission pictures of his proposed sign and said it would be an attractive sign.

During the last re-working of the town's sign ordinance, the town had put a prohibition on internally lit signs. Ali currently has one at the station, but wants to replace it with a bigger and better version.

Letourneau suggested a compromise could be reached.

"Why can't you put up a sign and not light it?" He asked.

Ali rejected the compromise and wondered why the town wouldn't allow businesses, such as his and Tyrone Tire to make changes to their existing signs.

Letourneau said he didn't have a problem with altering the sign, but he didn't want to see any more lights.

"You're creating a new sign. I don't think that store needs any more lights. It's lit up like an airport," he said.

Planning Commissioner Tom Williams added that Ali knew the rules when he erected the sign and should have known he would have to comply with the town's regulations.

The question of Ali's sign has been bandied around the town's governing bodies for the last few weeks and Ali expressed his frustration at the length of time for rendering a decision.

"Where am I supposed to go?" He said.