by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
COBDEN — Rogers Communication has followed rules and guidelines established by Industry Canada regarding erecting a radiocommunication towers on property on Foresters Falls Road near Cobden.
However, residents who live near the property where a proposed tower is to be erected, are not happy with council nor the decision that so far it can be allowed.
Todd White from CRINS (Canadian Radiocommunications Information and Notification Service) noted there were four concerns from residents regarding the possible erection of a tower at 18 Foresters Falls Road.
Mr. White noted the report provided to council addresses in-depth each of the concerns brought forward by the residents.
He reviewed each one briefly.
Mr. White said property values and taxes cannot be a factor of concern by a municipal council as directed by Industry Canada. As for health and safety, all properties and towers must meet the Health Canada standards at all times. As for the access road, that is on a county road, therefore it has jurisdiction, not the municipality. He noted it must meet the national building code and fire regulations. Mr. White suggested the county or fire marshall will establish sitelines regarding the access road.
The access must be a certain width and structured to county requirements as well as the fire marshall to ensure that fire services can get onto the property if required, he said.
The fourth concern was regarding the roadway going onto wetlands. Mr. White noted the tower will not be located on the wetlands, but the Ministry of Natural Resources or the Ministry of the Environment will be involved with the construction of any entranceway to the tower, because that will be through wetlands.
Eric Belchamber, from Rogers Communication, was allowed to address council
When questioned about the access road, Mr. Belchamber said construction is out of his scope.
“If the township would like specific information, a report was prepared that needed approval and it can be provided to council,” he said.
Mayor Hal Johnson noted a silt fence would most likely be erected. Explaining it easily, this fence would catch anything that could fall into the marshland.
Mr. White said Rogers will have to return to council to show proof that it is doing everything required by Industry Canada.
“They have to have a record…so you know it’s done,” he said.
Mayor Johnson said people are concerned with what is referred to as ‘white light’ from radiocommnication towers.
Through time, in reality, the white light is very minor, he said.
“People who are going to be living near, they need to know that it’s not a safety hazard, they need to know that they can come and talk to you guys.” he said, continuing, “To put this in perspective, we can only say that we are giving permission in principle. We do not own the land, we can make recommendations to make sure our people are safe, but it’s only a recommendation.
“We are trying to protect our citizens, but it’s not our jurisdiction.”
Mayor Johnson was hoping for assurance from Mr. Belchamber that Rogers Communication would keep the residents informed of what is happening.
Mr. White said CRINS will be a source of information for the residents since it is now on contract to the township.
As for Rogers Communication, Mr. Belchamber said there is a process in place for questions and concerns to be addressed.
The motion passed by council issues a formal letter of concurrance to Rogers with copy to Industry Canada to permit Rogers Communication to move forward with the installation of proposed wireless communcations site located at 18 Foresters Falls Road, with the following conditions:
1) meet the requirements and regulations of the Ministry of Natural Resources.
Must provide an undertaking to the Township of Whitewater Region prior to issue of formal letter of concurrance.
After the mayor said the motion was passed and caried, Reeve Terry Millar said he wanted to abstain from voting and wanted it tabled until the rest of council was in attendance.
“It’s actually been passed so I don’t know if we can do that,” Mayor Johnson said.
When questioned by Coun. Regier as to the purpose of doing that, Mayor Johnson said Reeve Millar can abstain, but the motion was passed.
“It’s just a matter of voting no,” Coun. Regier said.
When questioned as to those against, Reeve Millar raised his hand.
WHAT JUST HAPPENED?
Sitting in the audience, Harold Gilchrist raised his arm a few times hoping to address council.
But, he was not seen by any council member.
However, eventually he was spied by Mayor Johnson and while not allowed, Mr. Gilchrist said, “What did you just do?”
Mayor Johnson said council agreed to continue onto the next step regarding the tower.
Chief Building Official Doug Schultz said the MNR will become involved in the process and will need to give its approval of the road.
Mayor Johnson said, “There’s a lot of hoops to jump through yet.”
When questioned about the access, Mr. Schultz said the MNR and county will be reviewing the access and entrance.
If that is satisfied, it will come back to council.
Mayor Johnson said council agreed to let Rogers Communications move forward with the tower process, but it has to meet the other criteria before it can be erected.
Therefore, “It’s in the hands of the federal government at this point,” he said.
Mr. Gilchrist was hopeful his wife Susan would be allowed to address council as she had prepared a statement for the meeting.
Mayor Johnson noted the Gilchrists were not on the agenda.
However, Mr. Gilchrist pointed out that several times during the discussion with Mr. White and Mr. Belchamber his name was used because he has a concern.
“I’m not on the agenda, but my name is,” he stated. “That’s not right.
“We were told we could come any time and do this,” he said. “We were told come to the meeting about the tower. We were here the last time and we talked about it. We were asked to come again, but nobody on this township gave us the okay other than the guy who was here to let us know this meeting was happening.
“You were supposed to let us know,” Mr. Gilchrist said.
Mayor Johnson said Mr. White is council’s representative and he advised the Gilchrists of the meeting.
However, Mr. Gilchrist said someone from the township was to notify them of the meeting as well.
When Mayor Johnson said he had no idea what occurred and CAO Christine FitzSimons was not at the meeting, Mr. Gilchrist quipped inn, “You were at the meeting.”
While he admitted he was, Mayor Johnson said CRINS staff were instructed by council to review the project to ensure all the rules and regulations were being followed — and the report presented at tonight’s meeting showed they have been met so far.
Mr. Gilchrist noted Mr. White nor Mr. Belchamber were on the agenda but were allowed to talk — why couldn’t he or his wife.
“You did have a say in it,” Mayor Johnson said.
The Gilchrists provided a statement prior to the first deadline of Aug. 21.
However, Mr. Gilchrist said they feel as if Rogers has ignored their concerns.
And now, council passed a motion tonight when all of council is not present, he said.
“No one knows what they are doing, because half of them who were here last week are gone,” he said. “It shouldn’t be passed until everybody is back on board, like Terry said.”
Mayor Johnson noted there is a quorum of council, so a motion can be discussed and passed.
“I don’t have your name on the agenda,” Mayor Johnson said. “Hope, you can talk to that.”
Ms. Dillabough agreed with Mayor Johnson that there is quorum.
Mayor Johnson assured Mr. Gilchrist that the matter is not over yet.
“It still has to run through all the federal government stuff,” he said. “All we’re saying is its met the criteria at this level and we don’t have any real say beyond that.
“If it’s deemed to be safe, that’s all we’re able to do,” Mayor Johnson added.
As for the Gilchrists not being on the agenda, Mayor Johnson said he will have staff look into why they weren’t.
“If that was a mistake made by our staff, we’ll look into that,” he said.
Ms. Gilchrist noted there was no agenda posted on the website until late Tuesday night.
“We had no way of knowing if it was on the agenda,” she said.
Ms. Gilchrist said they have asked repeatedly to be notified when there is correspondence or anything related to this file on the agenda, so they can attend the meeting.
“We would just like your co-operation in the future, that anything regarding this project that we be informed,” she said.
While the mayor stated it’s not council’s responsiblity to make Roger’s comply with recommendations in the report, and they’re not sure whose responsiblity it is, hopefully the company will folllow them.
Mayor Johnson said council will be asking questions throughout the process to ensure all is followed.
“I am very concerned with the fact that you have not been kept up to speed, I’m very concerned with that,” he stated.
“That’s not correct and we need to rectify and we will rectify that,” he said.
Reeve Millar said anyone of those interested in this project can contact him personally if they have any questions or concerns.
“We realize the importance of getting back to people and that’s what we want to do,” he said. “Don’t be shy to call me and I will do my best to help you.”
Mayor Johnson suggersted “a motion be passed that staff take an extra interest in keeping all of the people here tonight in the loop so anything to do with the Rogers tower would be cc’d to them.”
Councillor Daryl McLaughlin said if the people here sign a sheet with their contact information, they will be notified of anything to do with the project.
Mayor Johnson said if there is a sign-up sheet, it will be mandatory for staff to contact them.
“That should have been happening, even without the sheet,” he said. “We should have been more diligent in all of that.”
Council dealt with what was in front of them in a fair manner. However, Mayor Johnson advised it wouldn’t be council advising the Gilchrists what is happening, but it would be the go-between.
While others tried to talk from the floor, Councillor Cathy Regier suggested they now come to the microphone so they could be heard by all.
Answering a question regarding radiation from the tower, Mayor Johnson said he’s not an expert, but from what he understands, with technology changed, there isn’t the danger there used to be.
“It’s not a danger to your health,” Mayor Johnson said.
Mr. Gilchrist questioned how they get on the agenda and Ms. Dillabough noted an email can be sent to herself or the CAO or they could fill out a delegation from that is online.
However, Reeve Millar noted delegations are now backed up to November, so it’s not going to be “slam dunk” that there will be a quick turn-around to get the Gilchrists on the agenda.
Mr. Gilchrist said, “As long as Rogers is doing something, we want to come to a meeting and we want to be heard. We need to be on that list to talk about Rogers and what’s happening.”
Reeve Millar said, “We broke all the rules tonight, and I’m glad we did,” but just attending a meeting where the tower is discussed does not mean anyone is on the agenda.
“If you go through me, I can try to achieve that,” he said.
Mayor Johnson said, “We’ve opend this up to a public meeting and in order to get you on the (notification) list, get everybody here” on the list.
“If Rogers contacts us with any information that is relevant to the situation, then that will be on there,” he said, noting, “The information automatically goes to the people on the list.”
Ms. Dillabough noted if there is anything to do with this tower, the people on the list will be notified by email or a telephone call.
