BY STEPHEN H. COWLES/CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Playback58@gmail.com

ISLE OF WIGHT—The Isle of Wight County Board of Supervisors on Thursday voted 3-2 against giving permission to Sprint to build a 195-foot cellphone tower on Murphy Mill Road near Windsor.

Voting against the permit were Carrsville District Supervisor Rex Alphin, Hardy District Supervisor JoAnn Hall and Newport District Supervisor Byron Bailey. Favoring it were Windsor District Supervisor Delores “Dee Dee” Darden and Smithfield District Supervisor Al Casteen.

Curtis Holland, who would benefit by selling his property to Sprint, said the tower would enhance communication for residents and rescue personnel.

Darden agreed and made the motion to approve the permit.

A petition with 37 names of those opposed to the tower was then given to the board, and Alphin opposed the motion.

“I really value our rural landscape,” Alphin said. “How many cell towers do we need?”

Hall questioned how critical the tower would be for emergency services, while Bailey thought the tower would devalue surrounding properties.