Flowery Branch cell tower moratorium

FLOWERY BRANCH - During their last meeting of the year Monday night Flowery Branch City Council members approved a 120 day moratorium on cell tower applications.

That means the city is not considering any requests for cell tower sites for 120 days or until Council comes up with a telecommunications ordinance of its own.

Mayor Protem Ron Petrie made the motion and said Hall County's ordinance would not protect the city, so Flowery Branch needs time to come up with its own regulations.

Flowery Branch's Mayor and Council Monday night heard a glowing report on city finances at the end of the year but a member of the Finance Committee said beware of revenue projections from new development.

Councilman Ed Lezaj said the city bears the cost when the developments don't meet the projections because of bad weather.

"The Finance Committee may recomend prepayment," said Lezaj.

"If it rains forever you're not going to get started and you're going to delay a whole project for six or seven months."

Lajay told Council it might not sound good to developers but its either the city's cash flow or the developer's cash flow.

The Finance Committee member said the city is jeopardized under current policy and its time to learn from the past.

Former Flowery Branch City Council member and boat retailer Alan Bryans got a six month hardship extension Monday night to clean up his property.

Bryans did not escape sharp questioning from council members and a tie vote that was split by Mayor Gene Reed.

Bryans said he did not intend ask for another extension after six months, but his answer was unsatisfactory to Councilman Ed Lezaj.

Mayor Reed interceded, telling Bryans to "just say no."

Reed broke a 2-2 tie and voted for Bryans extension.

Mayor Protem Ron Petrie and Council member Pat Zelewski also voted for Bryans.

Councilman Larry Pritchett, who voted against Bryans along with Lezaj, said the city had already given Bryans eight months for the clean-up.

Bryans said he wanted the extension to allow him more time because of his health.

The clean-up extension was granted with the understanding there would be no extension after six months.