CW council backs new cell tower in Fergus

CENTRE WELLINGTON — The Committee of the Whole has given “concurrence,” or support, for the erection of a cell phone tower in Fergus.

The vote received unanimous support although Coun. Barbara Lustgarten-Evoy could not attend.

To go ahead with the setting up of the tower, approval must be received from Industry Canada. It requires municipal consultation as a condition of its approval process.

The tower would be built for Bell Mobility, be 22 metres high, and be located at 810 St. David St. North, Fergus.

Coun. Lisa MacDonald inquired if the cell tower might negatively affect helicopters in the area.

“We have emergency helicopters going to our hospital in this area, like they go over there and so that meets all the requirements?” MacDonald said.

Sean Galbraith, a representative of Bell, explained that the tower should not be an issue for the helicopters going to the hospital.

“If Transport Canada requires lighting for it, there would just be a standard beacon at the top. But, in my experience, this is far too short to require lighting,” Galbraith said.

Coun. Denis Craddock inquired about the nature of the electromagnetic energy of cell phone towers and Health Canada’s Safety Code 6, which regulates the amount of radiofrequency energy that is safe to be exposed to. Radiofrequency energy is a type of electromagnetic energy.

“Just with your Safety Code 6, what are these emissions, is it just the radio frequencies?” Craddock said.

Galbraith explained Safety Code 6.

“The electro-magnetic frequencies, so cell phones and cell towers are regulated by Health Canada, through a thing called Safety Code 6. It sets the maximum emission levels that can be received in the general area around it. There is a maximum exposure level. Typically it’s like a third of one per cent of the maximum allowable levels,” Galbraith said.

Bell has expressed it will follow Safety Code 6 for this tower in a letter to Brett Salmon, attached to the report on this issue. Salmon is the managing director of planning and development.

A condition of the committee's decision is to have Salmon prepare a letter stating the committee's approval.

Jesse Gault is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.