SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Planning commissioners expressed strong satisfaction with the progress being made on the Causeway to camouflage unsightly equipment surrounding the city’s only cell phone tower.

"I think they’ve done a really good job doing what they said they’d do masking the equipment," said Commission Chairman Carl Nelson during a June 13 informal work session.

Building Official Bruce Renkert said tower developer Lester Boihem with Two-Way Communications has secured three active service carriers for the tower, and is still negotiating with T-Mobile which remains in place atop the nearby former Ramada Inn site.

Room remains on the tower to add a fifth carrier, but no plans exist at this time to do so, Renkert said.

At issue, however, were commissioners’ concerns that the cumbersome support equipment the tower requires would create an eyesore for passers-by, but Nelson said Boihem has stuck to his fish camp design and the structure fits in nicely with the surrounding businesses.

Meanwhile, Renkert told commissioners demolition and clearing permits have been secured by businessman Michael Lapeyrouse, who plans to convert the Causeway’s former Exxon gas station into a combination restaurant-convenience store-bait shop.

"This is the first step," Renkert said.