Sean Abshire relies on his cell phone, but his service is far from reliable.
“Horrible. Absolutely horrible," he told News 13. "Dropped calls all the time. No cell service at all.”
His service could get better, if the Volusia County Council approves rezoning a parcel of agricultural land just beyond the city limits that would allow construction of a 17-story cell tower.
That far exceeds the height of the town's water tower, as well as the highest steeples of the churches in the historic district.
The proposed tower would not just help out cellular customers in Lake Helen. It would also help boost coverage to the fast-growing Victoria Park neighborhood in nearby DeLand. Both Verizon and AT&T are interested in getting stronger signals in the area.
Yet, Marcia Lenninger would just as soon see the tower built there.
She's a co-owner of the Edgewood Home, which she is restoring.
The idea of guests staring at a cell tower from their second floor rooms doesn't sit well with her.
“Lake Helen is not the right place. Yes, I understand people need better reception here. That is a concern, but Lake Helen, of all the places for it to be next to, Lake Helen is not the place to be next to.”
Lenninger said she will continue to fight it, but Abshire may be in the majority in town.
“I don't have a landline and nobody I know really has a landline. But everybody relies on cell service around here, I think, pretty much. So, I think it's imperative to have cell service."
Abshire asked a question which just may solidify his side of the debate.
"What if there's an emergency and you need to call 911 and you have a dropped call?”
The Volusia County Council is scheduled to hear the rezoning case on Thursday afternoon. The county's Planning and Land Development Regulation Commission already recommended rezoning the property.