There was more tower talk when North Glengarry council met on May 11, and this time council has given its approval of a proposal for a 40 metre/131-foot wireless communication tower at 419 Main Street North in Alexandria. The location is near County Road 34 at the north end of town.
On April 13, council had decided to defer adopting a resolution endorsing the project after determining it wanted more information from the proponent of the project, Shared Tower Inc. On May 11, Audrey Burella of Shared Tower Inc. provided a presentation about the proposal to council before the decision was made.
Wireless communications towers are a federal responsibility. Municipal councils cannot stop communication towers from being constructed as the provincial Planning Act and Ontario Building Code do not apply.
Burella explained that Shared Tower Inc. provides communication tower infrastructure for other wireless carriers and the purpose of the tower is to fill coverage gaps in and around Alexandria. The single pole tower will include a small, fenced compound on the ground.
After the earlier publication of the notice of intent by Shared Tower Inc., the public had the opportunity to submit comments about the proposed tower. Burella said no public comments were received. She also addressed concerns about the health and safety of communication towers and radio frequencies.
Burella explained that the proposed tower will be within the radio frequency limits set under Health Canada’s Safety Code 6, which is the official set of health and safety regulations for radio frequencies from wireless communication towers.
Council adopted the resolution in support of the proposed Shared Tower Inc. project. However, Councillor Brian Caddell had expressed concerns about the location of the proposed tower and health and safety, so he voted against the resolution.
