COURTLAND
In November 2013, the Southampton County Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission granted a conditional use permit to allow Verizon Wireless to build a wireless telecommunication tower to improve cell service throughout the area. However, more than one year later, neither the board of supervisors, planning commission or Verizon Wireless are aware of a time frame regarding the tower’s construction.

Beth Lewis, secretary for the planning commission, told The Tidewater News that they still expect Verizon to construct the 199-foot structure behind the home of Paige Pulley at 32168 Millfield Road, roughly 2,000 feet east of the Ivor Road (Rt. 616) intersection, but she could not speak on behalf of the company any further.

Drew Patterson, a representative for Verizon, explained that the company intends to follow through with the cell tower, but again, has not been informed of any immediate plans for construction. Patterson, who attended the public hearing when the permit was issued, was surprised that construction had yet to begin.

“It’s usually only a few months (before construction begins),” said Patterson. “The only way that construction would be pushed back is if the proposed site were to change locations.”

County Administrator Michael Johnson noted that he is “not aware of any plans to relocate the tower from its original site.”