Residents in

south Fayette County should see their cellphone reception improve after

action taken last week by the Fayette County Commission.

The commission

voted 3-1 to allow Lee Wright to extend his existing communications tower

on Chappell Road from 170 feet to 188 feet.

This is the

second time Wright has appealed to the commission, and 15 residents turned

out Thursday night to voice their opposition.

"This

extension is not necessary with the new technology and receivers. This

is done for financial gain," said Ron Cherry.

Attorney Charles

Ballard, who represented Wright, told the County Commission that FCC requirements

call for services to be extended to 100 percent of the residents.

Resident John

Ward, who lives on Chappell Road, agreed with Ballard.

"I've

got 16 cellphones and they go dead every once in a while in that area,"

he said.

When it came

time for the vote, the commissioners voted the same as they did in January,

with the exception of Commissioner A.G. VanLandingham.

VanLandingham,

who had voted against the proposal, switched his vote.

"There's

now supporting information for it. The tower on Ga. Highway 85 south will

not serve that area," he said.

Commission

chair Greg Dunn supported the extension, but had a stern warning for Wright:

"Don't come back looking for anymore extensions."

The vote was

3-1, with Commissioner Linda Wells casting the dissenting vote.

Commissioner

Peter Pfeifer was absent. He has not attended a commission meeting since

last fall when he suffered a stroke-like episode and had to undergo

weeks of physical rehabilitation.