By Rusty Nixon Correspondent
PLYMOUTH — Calls will be a little easier to make thanks to a ruling by the Marshall County BZA.
U.S. Cellular came before the board for a second time to support its request for a variance in the zoning ordinance to place a 250-foot tower near Ancilla College. The board had asked the company to answer several questions about the request in a previous appearance.

One concern of the board was whether or not U.S. Cellular could utilize a current tower on the Ancilla campus for what they were trying to accomplish with increased coverage area in the county.
The company hired Valmont, who erected the tower, to do an engineering study which determined the tower was not able to handle the equipment that the company wishes to put on the tower. The company also provided documentation that whenever possible they have co-located on existing towers in the county.
Without the tower, company representatives state that customers would be able to make calls in their cars, but indoor calling would be very difficult.
Part of the company’s future plans are to try to provide a tower in the northwest corner of the county, near Walkerton.
Board member Dennis Thornton commented that he felt the company had answered all of the board’s questions and the vote was unanimous to grant the variance.
Signs were also discussed at the meeting with Bull Frog outdoor advertising requesting a variance to place a sign just off of old U.S. 31, where it combines with new U.S. 31.
The electronic advertising sign would be located on the property of Discount Storage, but the variance was requested to have a 35-foot sign instead of the 20 feet in the ordinance.
Since the road falls away nearly 20 feet in front of the property the fear was the sign would not be able to be seen from the road.
The board granted the variance.
Another sign was denied along S.R. 17 near S.R. 6.
Fred Zhart was requesting the variance that was denied since the location was much less than the required 500 feet from the intersection of state roads as required by ordinance and also was to be placed in an area zoned A1 that does not permit such signs.