Heretofore uncharged fee to be collected

A letter has gone out to owners and operators of Oconee communication towers announcing that a county ordinance not previously enforced but will be going forward.  And one county businessman complains to 101.7/WGOG NEWS, if allowed to stand, what’s being required will dip into the pocketbooks of those to whom it applies.  Above the name of James Coley, director of Oconee Planning and Zoning, the July 1 letter reads:  “…All companies that operate or maintain ownership of communication towers in the county shall submit an annual report to the county planning department no later than January 15 of each year.  The report shall include a description of all of the company’s active and inactive facilities located in the county, co-locations of its own equipment, co-locations of other companies using its facilities, and shall include telephone numbers and addresses for company officials and maintenance personnel. Oconee County’s fee schedule also requires an annual Communications Tower fee of $1,000. The requirements of annual reports and fees have not been historically enforced.  The County will follow these requirements going forward, without penalty for years missed. Please submit your annual report and fee at your earliest convenience before January 15, 2025….” This morning 101.7/WGOG NEWS sat in on a meeting Coley conducted with amateur radio enthusiast Mike Wright of Walhalla, and the meeting gave Coley a chance to amplify and clarify the interpretations that have been made of the letter.  Specifically, according to the planning and zoning official, the $1 thousand charge applies only to whoever pulled the tower permit.   Coley’s remarks are being aired today over 101.7/WGOG NEWS.