Commission Approves Eight New Cell Towers
Two hours of the Jasper County Commissioners three hour meeting Monday was devoted to public hearings and subsequent votes on eight proposed telecommunications towers in Jasper County.
The applicant, Retel Services, representing AT&T, said that the tower placement was part of a three-year plan for a comprehensive wireless network for AT&T in Jasper County. Discussion Monday revealed that the county should have 100 percent coverage once the network is complete.
Commissioners held eight different public hearings, with the first and the last causing the most discussion. For the first one, Sherry Braley, planing and zoning administrator, reviewed all the conditions that would apply to each application, an explanation that took about 15 minutes.
For all eight towers, there are 13 conditions that must be met before a building permit will be issued. Those conditions include approval from the FAA, Indian tribes, the geo-technical studies, theFCC, and more.
Some of the sites require additional screening to lessen the chance of the tower being an eyesore. The Jasper County Planning and Zoning Commission held public hearings on the towers in October, and unanimously recommended approval of each one, said Ms. Braley.
Jasper County contracted with the Georgia Center for Local Government (GCLG), and its local agent, David Dyer, in 2009, to oversee cell tower applications. The thought was that counties such as Jasper do not have the resources to thoroughly investigate all aspects of cell tower placement, so experts are called upon.
Mr. Dyer spoke assured the commissioners that the county’s zoning requirements had been completely met.
The zoning hearings were numbered 2013Z01-2013Z08, but they were not held in one through eight order, to the aggravation of some present. Application Z02 was the most controversial both at the P&Z meeting and Monday, and that hearing was held last.
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Ms. Braley’s presentation on the first tower to be considered, which was 2013Z03, a cell tower to be placed on Hwy. 16 west.
Former commissioner Mary Patrick was the first to speak during the opposition portion of the public hearing. Mrs. Patrick said she has a real problem with the application…everything they are supposed to do has not been done. She also said she hoped we did not need to hear the 15-minute explanation of conditions on every application. She questioned why the county is giving approval with so many conditions.
Mr. Dyer said it is not unusual for county’s to issue “timing waivers.” No building permit will be issued until all conditions are met, he assured the commission.
Carolyn Gould with Retel Services said they have done preliminary studies, but do not have final studies. She indicated that the geo-technical studies are very site-specific, and are not something to make the tower a go or no-go, but more something to determine how to build it.
Commissioner Doug Luke asked about the time sensitivity of the approval. He wondered why the county needs to give approval before all the other approvals are in hand.
Mr. Dyer said that the FCC has a declaratory ruling that says the county must act within 150 days of the application, or it will make a declaratory ruling. The county is about half-way into that time. He said it is a speed to market issue
Commissioner Bruce Henry asked if there was space on the towers for public safety. Mr. Dyer said that is something to be negotiated between the county and the owner. Later in the hearing, Mr. Dyer said that the law is clear that the availability and cost of the towers for public safety cannot enter into the decision making.
Mr. Dyer said we can’t guarantee other carriers or AT&T would not need more towers in the future. He spoke of market demand and available bandwidth.
After the extensive discussion, the commissioners voted unanimously to approve Application 2013Z03.
The next application to be considered was 2013Z01, the tower at Smith’s Mill in the southwest portion of the county.
Mrs. Patrick again spoke. She said, “I hate to be obstinate…but if federal and state requirements have not been met” why is the county approving it.
After brief discussion, the commissioners approved that site unanimously.
The next application was for a tower on Clay Tillman Road in south Jasper County.
David Bryant, who said he lives in District 2, said he makes his money as a traveling salesman, and he lives on his phone. He said it’s time for Jasper County to step up to the 21st Century. He old how salesmen like him spend money in a community, but said salesmen avoid Jasper County because of its reputation for no cell service.
Bob Wallace said he is for it, and that is why AT&T should come in.
That application also passed unanimously.
Applications Z05, 06, 07 and 08 received little discussion before each was passed unanimously.
The final application was for 2013Z02, a tower on Post Road in Shady Dale.
Bob Wallace said he is not opposed to AT&T building towers aned exzpanding service. He said he is asking the Board of Commissioners (BOC) to abide by its ordinance, and cites where the ordinance says carriers should co-locate on existing towers if possible.
There is a 380 ft. tower on Hwy. 142, less than two air miles from the site of the Post Road tower. Several people can see the Hwy. 142 tower from their homes, and will be able to see the Post Road one also. They said it is a problem. Mr. Wallace told commissioners they had the power to deny the application.
Commissioner Luke asked for assurance again that there would be no shovel hit the ground until all conditions are met, and that there will be no blanket permitting. He received his assurance. Then he asked about the likelihood of more towers in the future.
He also questioned the kind of time for approval of state and federal guidelines, and was told 90-120 days.
This application caused the most discussion of any, with several people opposed, but ultimately, that tower application was also approved unanimously.
