County residents

could soon see higher telecommunication towers to aid the county's 911

system.

The Fayette

County Commission tomorrow will consider a change to the county's zoning

ordinance to allow privately owned towers to rise higher.

County attorney

Bill McNally explained the reasons for the change to the Planning Commission

last week.

Currently,

the ordinance covers towers owned by Fayette County. In order to use existing

towers for 911 and emergency services, McNally said the ordinance had

to be changed.

The reason

for the changes is the new frequencies being used by the county's emergency

services. Years ago, McNally said, the county was given a frequency that

was also used by general users. The frequency has now been sold, and the

FCC assigned Fayette County a dedicated frequency that other municipalities

also use.

The new frequency

spreads out like an umbrella, instead of a straight line, so the county

will need higher towers.

The only other

option, McNally said, was to build six or seven new towers.

"I don't

think we want the county building towers at $300,000 a piece. There are

existing towers we can use," he said.

While the Planning

Commission unanimously supported the change, they did have some reservations.

"I just

don't want anybody to gain a competitive edge. I just want to make it

fair for everybody and want to make sure the public has some input about

the location of towers," said Planning Commissioner Bob Harbison.

Harbison was

talking about existing companies that have complied with the county's

height requirements who might feel slighted if the county allows another

tower to be built taller.

The County

Commission considers the measure tomorrow night at 7 p.m. at the County

Administrative Complex at Stonewall Avenue.