The Blytheville Planning Commission strengthened the stigma that small-town politics will always be run by the "Good Ol' Boy" system when effectively denying 4G service to serve the interest of one of its members.
After fellow commission member Johnathan Abbott lobbied passionately against the move from the audience -- instead of the table, somewhat to his credit -- the board refused to even vote on AT&T's request for a conditional use permit to erect a wireless communications facility with a 150-foot monopole tower on Lockard Street, adjacent from Abbott's property.
From what I understand, Abbott and the AT&T representative, David Cunningham, put on a quite show Tuesday night. From reports, it appears they both had some tactless exchanges, including Abbott nearly being thrown out by Planning Commission chairman Jim McClain.
In the end, Abbott got what he wanted -- AT&T left without permission for the tower. Reportedly, Cunningham had an additional reason to stew when he tried one last jab while walking out the door, saying Abbott would have no problem with the tower if it was on his property, to which Abbott responded: Have them get in touch with me.
I hope for Abbott's sake he was being facetious; otherwise that shows an ulterior motive than the one presented.
Abbott's argument was an outdated section in the Zoning Regulations that reads: "The tower shall be set in a manner that all ice-fall or debris from the tower structure (including tower failure) or guy wires will not fall outside the parcel (being the property purchased or leased for the tower site) containing the tower."
Apparently, Abbott fears that tower may fall on his property, potentially doing damage.
As I understand it, Cunningham claimed to have information from engineers proving the tower wouldn't fall on his property, but instead on AT&T's 70-by-80-foot parcel.
Fortunately, AT&T has an avenue to appeal -- the Blytheville City Council.
That's if the company is still interested in bringing 4G here.
Certainly, the community could benefit from 4G, which would be a much faster data speed than the company's customers currently enjoy.
According to Cunningham, for the tower to be able to properly "link up" to the other towers and provide sufficient service, it has to be located in the general vicinity being considered.
It's puzzling why there are so many other towers in town, near places they could fall and do damage, under Abbott's reasoning.
Perhaps those towers slipped by the Commission.
Or maybe there wasn't a strong enough voice to stop it.
Better yet, maybe those nearby understood the towers, to some degree, are a sign of progress.
I'm sure commission members will argue their hands were tied by the rules in place, and there was nothing they could do until the City Council amends the code book.
The problem with that excuse is they grant variances and conditional use permits at nearly every meeting.
If the board couldn't, what purpose does it serve? It certainly doesn't regularly make recommendations to change the codes, some of which have become antiquated. The board is full of intelligent members: McClain, Abbott, Ben Hubbard, Ron Cardwell, Bill Bracey Jr., Marty Orr, Elaine Goff, Peggy Lemons, Bobby Garner, Buddy Harris, Vivian Harrison and Mark Terry.
Sadly, though, it is the citizens who are getting the short end of the stick by their lack of a decision. That seems to be par for the course in recent years. The interest of one person is put above the betterment of the community.
If Blytheville is to become the place officials say they are working toward -- a growing, progressive community -- that has to change, quickly.
mbrasfield@blythevillecourier.com