State court rules against county planning officer

ATLANTA - The Georgia Supreme Court decided Monday that Thomas County citizens should be able to continue a lawsuit against a county official over the installation of a telecommunications tower. <br> <br> A lower court had dismissed the lawsuit against planning director Johnny Reichert, who leased property to a Florida company on condition that Reichert obtain a permit allowing a 350-foot strobe-lit tower to be built there. <br> <br> A citizens group sued to block the construction, claiming that Reichert is a public officer and that the permit decision was a conflict of interest. <br> <br> A Superior Court decided Reichert was not a public officer and dismissed the suit. The Supreme Court reversed that decision Monday, clearing the way for the lawsuit to go forward.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/3/197651