A request to put a cell phone tower in southern Douglas County was rejected in a 2-1 vote by county commissioners Wednesday night.

Commissioners Charles Jones and Jere McElhaney voted against granting a conditional use permit that would have allowed Verizon Wireless to build the tower at 1271 N. 222nd Road on property owned by Ronald and Margaret Shouse.

Commissioner Bob Johnson voted in favor of the permit, saying Verizon had met all the conditions established in county regulations. Johnson also said he understands why neighbors don’t want the tower.

A few neighbors attended the meeting and spoke out in opposition because of aesthetic reasons and because they said there are other properties where the tower could be placed and be less intrusive.

McElhaney also said he wondered if the tower could go elsewhere. Jones said he wasn’t convinced Verizon had fully explored co-locating its equipment on other towers that are serving the area. He also suggested the need for a third party more knowledgeable about the cell phone industry to review cell phone applications.

Neighbors told commissioners they had turned in a protest petition to a county office but commissioners said they had not received that petition. They were then given a copy of the petition signed by five property owners. County Administrator Craig Weinaug said he would investigate what happened to the original petition.

In another matter, commissioners agreed to send a letter to local state legislators asking them to try to get Constitution Hall in Lecompton reopened. The hall and other state historical sites under the direction of the Kansas Historical Society were ordered closed because of a “resources problem.” The sites are to be closed December through February this winter and next winter.

Paul Bahnmaier, president of the Lecompton Historical Society, said it didn’t make sense to close Constitution Hall. Its curator, Tim Rues, is still on call to drive from his home in Topeka to the hall when requested by tour groups.

Bahnmaier also expressed concern about confusion by the public about the status of Lecompton’s Territorial Capital Museum. The museum, which is operated by the Lecompton Historical Society, is still open.