Associated Press - November 12, 2009 10:05 AM ET

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) - Natrona County's Planning and Zoning Commission is fining a telephone company $10,000 for building five cell towers without the proper permit.

The Evanston-based Union Telephone apologized in August for installing the towers without permits. Owner Eric Woody told county officials that the company didn't understand the permit application process.

But Planning and Zoning Commission member Rich Fairservis says he could understand one mistake, but erecting five illegal towers shows negligence.

At a meeting Tuesday, the commission decided to give the company a permit for 1 of the towers, but they included a $10,000 fine along with it. On Wednesday, Fairservis declined to comment on whether penalties would also be tacked on the other four permits needed by Union Telephone.

The county commissioners still must approve the permit and the fine.

Information from: Casper Star-Tribune - Casper, http://www.trib.com

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