Letter: Neebing cell tower not wanted

To the editor:

This is my formal letter of concern for the 30-metre antenna sitting at 2121 Highway 61.
Regardless of all government safety codes and allowable limits regarding electro-magnetic exposure guidelines (which I personally feel are minimized for the public’s concerns), I do not support and will not be comfortable with any further eye sores adding to the visual pollution in our neighbourhoods and community.

When choosing a property to build our home in a newer development, one of the most important factors, besides being in a good, residential community, was the fact that we wanted underground services, eliminating the ugly wires and poles above ground. We wanted to not see any excess wires, poles, towers, etc., and especially did not want to see any evening visual lighting of any kind. Rural means rural.

And so we chose rural to build our home.

My husband and I are very upset and frustrated that we have not even been notified and the y way we found out about this Bell community notification was through an electronic copy mailed to us by our ward councillor. I made a phone call to the owner of 2121 Highway 61 and found from Mr. John Beals that there was a community meeting on Friday, Aug. 19 at the Sough Neebing Community Centre from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Why was this not advertised?

It seems to me that business in the communication field only works when it wants too. It’s pretty ironic that you’re in the communications field and yet not too many people were communicated with to learn about your proposal.

I’m very sorry, but we cannot and will not support the erection of the radio antenna in that location. If possible, please place it at the furthermost point possible where it will not be seen or detected (i.e. in the bush or cleared government forest cut area, somewhere it will not harm nature or disturb people or wildlife.

Failing that, can you find a co-location on existing towers and structures like you stated? I have never complained about dropped calls with cell phone use; in fact, I question if all this cell phone use and technology will have a negative health impact (increased brain cancer or lessened brain cell development) for the next generation of users.
 
Anna and Steve Marchese,
Thunder Bay