COBDEN — Susan and Harold Gilchrist are pleased with what occurred at last Wednesday’s corporate services committee meeting for Whitewater Region.
Eric Belchamber of Rogers has been working with council to have a tower erected on property owned by Councillor Chris Olmstead at the top of the hill near the intersection of Foresters Falls Road and Gypsy Lane.
When area home owners found out about this tower, they sent a letter to the company jobjecting to it.
The Gilchrists were at the meeting, with a few other people, to present a petition and letter objecting to the tower. These two items were also emailed to Mr. Belchamber at Rogers on Aug. 16.
Chief Administrative Officer Christine FitzSimons noted when the public meeting was held in July regarding the tower, only two people showed up. She also noted the deadline for submissions was Aug. 21 and was advised the letter and petition came after the deadline.
However, after reviewing the letter’s date on the email, she can’t explain why the company said it arrived after the deadline.
When questioned if the public meeting had been advertised, Ms. Fitzsimons noted it was put in the Eganville Leader and Pembroke Observer.
It was also noted that the Gilchrists did receive a package from the company regarding the tower’s erection.
The company is now asking for a letter from council advising it agrees with the tower being erected.
Ms. Gilchrist, who was allowed to speak at the meeting following consensus from the committee members, noted they do not receive either newspaper, so were not aware of the meeting.
As for missing the deadline, she’s not sure how that is possible, when the deadline was Aug. 21, and their email to Rogers is dated Aug. 16.
“We responded within the 21 day limit,” she said.
In the council package, there is also a letter from Mr. Belchamber answering their concerns, advising they now have 21 days to respond to that letter.
Mr. Belchamber advised the the Gilchrists missed the July 12 meeting. However, the Gilchrists, who live next door to the property where the tower is being erected, feel they should have been personally advised about the meeting, even through a letter mailed to them.
She said in February they found out about the tower when they talked to a Rogers employee on their property, who thought that’s where the tower was to be erected.
They informed him he was on the wrong property and made a request they be kept informed of all upcoming meetings regarding this issue — which they were not.
Following more discussion, Councillor Jackson asked if the next delegation could be heard, then possibly issues regarding this tower could be resolved.
Todd White, of Canada Radiocommunications Information and Nontification Service (CRINS), said CRINS deals with municipalities and organizations that have towers being erected in their areas.
It is free to join. They serve as expert staff for municipal members to evaluate proposed radiocommunications sites and support planning staff, he said.
They also provide overisght of ongoing obligations of proponents on behalf of members.
The company ensures the municipality and those affected by the radiocommunications are aware of what’s happening and of deadlines that must be met.
Within Renfrew County, there are approximately 1,800 active antennas on more than 220 strutures, Mr. White said.
To become a CRINS members, a municipality must pass a motion authorizing CRINS staff to act on its behalf.
Following more discussion, the committee agreed to pass a motion advising it was joining CRINS.
It also agreed to table the further discussion regarding the erection of a tower at 18 Foresters Falls Road until CRINS has had oportunity to review the file.
