The county board of commissioners is embarking on a well-intended but poorly executed plan to erect a radio tower within The Orchard subdivision. On February 2, 2023, Habersham County officials hosted a meeting to discuss the proposed tower. The result of which was an hour-long lambasting of the attending representatives by residents of The Orchard.
It should be noted that none of the attendees were County Commissioners. However, the county attorney was in attendance, and it was clear he will hang his hat on eminent domain and emergency services provisions if need arises. He did mention that concessions may be granted, including lowering the height of the tower to avoid light pollution from blinking lights and prohibiting the addition of cell phone carriers. Nonetheless, the negative sentiment toward the tower was voiced by property owners in near unanimous harmony; a statement so strong that county officials immediately began seeking alternate locations for the tower.
Shortly after the meeting, Tom Priddy, Radio System Admin, notified individuals within The Orchard that the county was searching for property west of the neighborhood, along some high ridgelines. More specifically, the county had located property on Shirly Grove Rd which met specified requirements. At this point, Orchard residents believed they had avoided the technological eyesore which comes with a noisy generator and unknown health effects from radio emissions.
The county has since reversed course and is proposing a slightly shorter tower be placed within The Orchard on Cider Ridge, parcel 140 080D. A move which will surely negatively impact property values and residents. The Orchard is a private community and does not rely on the county to maintain its roads, sewage, or drinking water, nor does it rely on patrolling officers, as the HOA pays for private security. However, The Orchard does account for a substantial portion of the County’s property tax revenue. The demographic makeup of the neighborhood consists primarily of retirees however, Cider Ridge is home to a young family. The health effects of radio waves, and subsequent 5G cell phone emissions, on pregnant women and developing children, are largely unknown as studies vary significantly.
On October 5, 2020, the parcel of land was transferred to Habersham County for $0 via a quit claim deed by the neighborhood developer Virgil Lovell, a local businessman who was once investigated by the IRS for bribery and tax fraud and sued by Georgia Trust Bank for non-payment of a loan. It is unclear if Mr. Lovell had the legal authority to give the County this parcel in the first place. It is also unclear if the HOA covenants apply to this parcel. All of which will most likely have to be settled in court. It is fortunate for homeowners the HOA has healthy coffers.
The tower in question is part of Habersham County’s updated emergency services radio system which includes 8 new towers across the county. This system allows EMS, Police, Animal Control, Dispatch, and other county services to communicate via radio. The county’s current system has fallen into disrepair in part because of lack of funds, and in part due to the manufacturer’s reluctance to service the aging system. Furthermore, the current system covers roughly 75% of the county, which officials say is dangerous and well short of the ideal coverage of 95%. Dangerous is a subjective term, as the county was unable to identify a single life which was lost due to the current radio coverage. In addition, county officials have been unable to demonstrate a need to build within The Orchard. In all likelihood, the county cannot afford to purchase and develop an alternate property.
County commissioners approved the new system back in 2021 but lacked funds to proceed as SPLOST was not sufficient. County Commissioners turned to one of President Biden’s inflation-contributing COVID-19 “free money” measures called the American Rescue Plan. Orchard residents are concerned the county will not have the money necessary to maintain the new system and, in such event, additional carriers will be added to the tower. This is a common practice where the tower owner leases space for cell phone antennas. Though county officials have indicated no such lease is being considered at this time, the revenue stream is usually too enticing for local governments to ignore.
What do the residents of The Orchard want?
In an ideal world, the residents would like the tower to be placed outside of their residential neighborhood and outside of their sightlines. If the county refuses to relocate the tower, Orchard residents want there to be no flashing lights, a contract prohibiting leasing and the addition of cell phone carriers, designated hours for construction and maintenance (including ongoing upkeep of the diesel generator), and just compensation for diminished property values and health implications.
Habersham County is largely rural, and residents understand the associated risks of rural living. Individuals accept these risks because they value freedom, peace, tranquility, the clear sky, nature, and minimal technological impact. People move to Habersham to get away from the metropolitan hellscape that is Atlanta and its sprawling suburbia. The Orchard is not unheard of but rather deliberately ignored. The county has secured locations for the other seven towers, and it is unknown if county officials will hold another public forum with residents of The Orchard.
Richard J. Rumble
The Orchard
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The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author. Now Habersham encourages readers to submit letters to share their opinions on issues of interest to our community. Click here for submission guidelines.
