Despite reports of coverage described as “spotty,” the county commissioners have rejected a plan to erect a cell tower in Cleveland Township. As the Johnston County Report notes, the decision squelches a plan proposed by UScellular and private citizen, William Otis Byrd.
Byrd spoke at the public hearing, declaring, “This is my land. I don’t know of nowhere else we can put the tower that would work. I need income off this tower. I am 72 years old. There ain’t many more years to be working.”
A UScellular representative supported Byrd’s statement, adding that the selected location represented the only viable option for addressing a coverage gap. He explained that surrounding areas were either unsuitable woods or wetlands, or would encroach on residential areas. Some nearby neighbors were among those who spoke in opposition to the cell tower, citing the usual litany of not wanting to look at a tower, phantom health concerns, and worries about property values.
The final decision was a 6-0 vote against the tower, prompting some interesting comments on the source’s web page, according to the Johnston County Report. For the most part, the public supported Byrd’s right to decide what to do with his own land and maligned the actions of Johnston County. One person noted that the FCC was likely to overturn the decision and cost the taxpayers extra money in the process. Another suggested that Byrd should keep pigs on the property to illustrate to the commission that their decision stinks.
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