SOURIS, P.E.I. — Despite rejecting the town's alternate locations, Bell Mobility is working with the Souris council on where to put its new telecommunications tower.
The 30-metre tower was discussed during Souris council's monthly meeting at the town hall on June 8. It was proposed by Bell to be built on its own property on Sterns Avenue – right in the downtown area – which many residents and most councillors were opposed to.
Shelley LaVie, the town's chief administrative officer, said in a follow-up interview with The Guardian that council opposed the location in its letter response to Bell.
The letter also suggested four alternative locations in areas either not as populated or on the town's outskirts.
"Because we all like to use our cellphones," LaVie said, laughing.
"But we'd like to find a spot that's not so close to houses."
According to LaVie, Bell had investigated the alternate locations but deemed them unsuitable as they wouldn't capture the best service area possible. Bell rejected the alternatives and opted to stick with Sterns Avenue.
"They really wanted to be more in the downtown area," LaVie said.
Katie Hatfield, a spokeswoman for Bell, wrote in an email to The Guardian that Sterns Avenue is still the preferred location because of how central it is.
"That will provide optimal coverage for residents, businesses and the Souris Hospital," her email reads.
The decision is outside of Souris' jurisdiction, but council decided during its June meeting to try to arrange for a meeting with Bell. A video conference with a few Bell representatives took place on June 16, which has left LaVie feeling positive.
"(Because) they're still open to the idea of looking into alternatives," she said.
"We are working with the town council to evaluate alternative sites and are open to additional suggestions by residents," Hatfield wrote in her email.
LaVie noted that some additional locations are now being discussed that might act as a good compromise between both Souris council's and Bell's preferences. However, nothing is certain, and Sterns Avenue could still very well be the location chosen, she said.
BACKGROUND:
- Bell Mobility is proposing the construction of a 30-metre tower on Sterns Avenue in Souris. It was originally pitched as a 20-metre tower with a thinner design.
- Bell consulted Souris' municipal government as per the federal regulations of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). However, the decision is outside of Souris' jurisdiction, meaning that Bell and ISED have the final say as to where it's built.
- At Souris council's May meeting, Mayor JoAnne Dunphy said she had spoken with several residents living on or near Sterns Avenue and doesn't blame any of them for opposing it. "It's not a spot where a tower should be going. It's too close to the people's houses," she said at the time.
Daniel Brown is a local journalism initiative reporter, a position funded by the federal government.
