The Meriwether County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 28 deferred a vote on a special-use request from TowerCo LLC and T‑Mobile to build a communications tower at 3552 Harmony Church Road (case EC25‑013), saying the board needed additional documentation and time to review safety and permitting details.

Town and applicant attorneys and technical experts opened the public hearing with the applicants attorney, Patton Hahn of Baker Donelson, saying the site was chosen to fill a documented wireless coverage gap. Hahn said the applicant reduced the towers originally proposed height from 255 feet to 226 feet after Federal Aviation Administration review and that the FAA issued a determination of "no hazard to air navigation" for the revised height.

The hearing included in-person and Zoom testimony. Lindsey Smith, identified as an airspace safety analyst, reiterated the FAAs no‑hazard finding and explained that FAA airspace studies examine approach procedures, obstruction clearance surfaces and foreseeable operations. The applicant emphasized that the FAA routinely considers future airport modifications and can reevaluate airspace if formal airport plans are filed.

Opponents included members of the Roosevelt Memorial Airport authority, airport professionals and local pilots who said the proposed location sits within the airports traffic pattern and could interfere with flight operations, pilot training and prospective helicopter operations. Jim Stetson, introduced as a retired FAA safety inspector and aircraft controller, and Phil Eberly of LeadEdge Design Group described how pattern altitudes and local approach procedures could put aircraft closer to the tower than opponents were comfortable with. Airport authority chairman Mike Watson said the towers proximity — roughly 0.7 miles from the runway, as reported by some speakers — left the authority unanimously opposed.

Residents also split: some who live in low‑lying, low‑coverage areas said better cell service could reduce emergency-response times and help elderly residents call for help. Jason Waddell, a resident who spoke in favor, said portions of the community are "almost a dead zone" and that improved service is a public‑safety issue.

Board members called multiple technical questions to applicants and opponents about approach bearings, pattern altitudes, and possible impacts on potential future instrument procedures. The county attorney reminded commissioners of federal legal limits under the federal Telecommunications Act and noted that denials of wireless facilities must be supported by substantial evidence and cannot be based on disallowed grounds such as generalized aesthetics or health effects of radio frequency emissions.

After hearing both sides and asking questions of FAA and aviation experts, the board voted to table the matter until its Nov. 10 meeting and requested additional documents, including any applicable FCC authorization and further technical input that the board may rely on in making a substantial‑evidence determination.

The board did not act on the permit at the Oct. 28 meeting. The application will return to the Nov. 10 agenda with the additional materials requested by commissioners.