Heard County tables vote on proposed Verizon cell tower until Aug. 18

The Heard County Board of Commissioners on July 21 unanimously voted to table a final decision on a Special Use Permit and variance for a proposed Verizon Wireless cell tower at Highway 100 and Mahaley Road until its Aug. 18, 2026 regular meeting.

Erin Parmer, the county Building and Zoning Director, described the application as a request for a tower on roughly 17 acres owned by Virginia Gripado; the Planning Commission recommended approval on July 6. Commissioners voted to open the public hearing and later, after hearing technical details from Greg Spence of Freebird Communications (presenting on behalf of Verizon) and testimony from residents, moved to postpone the final vote. "The proposed tower would accommodate up to four tenants, and Freebird would allow county EMS or other county equipment to be placed on the tower at no charge," Spence said during the presentation.

Board members pressed for more specificity on coverage and safety measures; Spence said coverage varies with topography, that the nearest property line is about 303 feet from the tower center, and that the site would include NiCad batteries in a two-hour fire-rated cabinet with a dedicated transformer and utility service. County Attorney Michael Hill cautioned the Board about legal limits under the Telecommunications Act of 1996, noting that the county may not condition decisions on generalized health concerns or unreasoned discrimination among providers. The tabling motion was made by Commissioner Iris Harris, seconded by Commissioner Larry Hammond, and passed unanimously; the item will return Aug. 18 for further consideration.