350-foot cell tower proposed for Okotoks
By Gillian Beckett
Staff Reporter
The residents of Okotoks may not have to look at a 350-foot cell tower if the
Town of Okotoks and the company proposing it can find an alternative.
Recently, representatives from the Town of Okotoks attended a meeting with Microcell
Connexions to discuss a 350-foot telecommunications tower proposed for just southeast
of St. Mary's School on Highway 7 at 32nd Street.
Currently, the proposed area is in the Municipal District of Foothills, however,
it abuts the Town of Okotoks boundary. Therefore, the proposal was referred to the
town for discussion and feedback.
The proposed cell tower would be located directly across from future Cimarron subdivision
development.
Obviously, because of its immense size, the proposal was met with reservation from
town representatives due to its proximity to the town and possible interruptions
in flight patterns from the Sky Wings Aviation Centre.
The proposed tower would stand 350 feet high with support from 15 guy wires. The
footprint of the tower would span about 500 feet, explained municipal manager Will
Pearce.
The average height of a telecommunications tower is 90 to 120 feet, he said.
Spokesperson for Microcell, Lynda Phinney, explained that a cell tower is located
in the most appropriate place with the most appropriate height in order to see another
site.
She explained that the Okotoks site is higher than average in order to provide coverage
to the town. There is an optimum place within what is called a search ring for a
cell tower to be located in order to provide the best service, said Phinney.
Because the location has been proposed outside of the town, the height needed to
be higher, she added.
'The coverage, unfortunately, cannot be completely away from the people you are trying
to serve,' she said.
Due to the grave concern of implementing such a massive tower within the Town of
Okotoks, the representatives from the town and Microcell have agreed to work together
to explore various alternatives.
'We are hoping to come up with a win-win (situation). . . but we have grave concerns
with the existing application (for development),' said Richard Quail, infrastructure
services manager for the town.
Quail added that the municipality doesn't have the right to prohibit the tower, but
does have the right to determine its location and the effects of visual appearance
within the town.
Preliminary discussions regarding alternatives include attaching similar antennas
on a much smaller scale to existing buildings within the town. For example, on the
water tower or grain elevator.
The municipality feels less impact will be felt if smaller existing sites were developed
rather than introducing a new massive site.
The smaller structures would have to provide the necessary reception required by
Microcell with minimal impact on the community, explained Quail.
'The company is committed to working with us in a collaborative and cooperative (manner),'
said Quail.
'We are going to try and work with all the local stakeholders to find the best location,'
added Phinney. 'We are definitely all on the same page as far as working together.'
Cell towers are administered by federal legislature, therefore, the town has limited
control and cannot refuse a cell tower proposal.
However, the federal government has mandated cell tower providers to consult affected
municipalities with such proposals.
The only time a cell tower proposal has been denied is through public pressure, explained
municipal manager Will Pearce.
A letter from Genstar, the developer in charge of the future residential in the southeast
corner of town, was forwarded to the town and Microcell for comment.
'We are extremely concerned about the future residential ( in that area),' said developing
manager Moez Moledina.
'We could easily have 200 to 250 households in a very close proximity to the tower,'
he added.
A letter was also forwarded to the MD of Foothills on behalf of Genstar Development
Company. It stated, 'Our client is opposed to this type of facility located next
to any residential development. There is still a great deal of uncertainty surrounding
the effects of microwaves on the human population and our client feels that it would
be better for the general population of Okotoks that this tower not be constructed
at this location.'
Developers of the Okotoks Air Ranch also expressed concern with the proposed tower
interfering with flights patterns.
'We are concerned about the tower encroaching into the air space and the confusion
of radio frequencies,' said Roger Carefoot, project manager for the Okotoks Air Ranch.
Carefoot explained that they have turned the proposal over to Transport Canada for
review and feedback. Transport Canada was circulated the application because of its
proximity to the airport.
'Obviously if (Transport Canada) determined it is not encroaching (into the air space)
then it is not a problem for us,' added Carefoot.
Phinney explained that their ultimate goal is to provide service to the area and
obtain the best coverage. She explained that the meeting was only the first in a
series of attempting to find a compromise.
Party Penguin
Dr. Seuss makes a balloon animal for this
young penquin at the Mini-Monster Bash held at the Okotoks Recreation Centre on Friday.
The bash saw more than 110 young trick-or-treaters enjoy crafts, games, bobbing for
apples, pumpkin carving and much more.
photo by Cindy Ballance
Weekend house fire leaves family homeless
By Gillian Beckett
Staff Reporter
A weekend fire has left an Okotoks-area family with triplets homeless.
After only two weeks of living in their new 1,800-square-foot home in the Gladys Ridge area on 192nd Street near Okotoks, Ron and Carmen Neuland, their two-year-old triplets and nanny Joy Ann Wood narrowly escaped the fire which levelled their house on Friday (Oct. 29) night.
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According to Neuland, the family escaped the burning house with three blankets, the triplets' teddy-bears and not much else. 'We were able to salvage all that we left the house with,' said Neuland. 'The fire just engulfed the house . . . the fire department came quickly -- within 20 minutes.'
According to Rob Mackenzie of the Okotoks fire department, fire department personnel from the Blackie, Okotoks and High River departments were called out to battle the blaze.
'We received the call at 10:07 pm,' said Mackenzie. 'We had about five apparatus and 13 personnel at the scene.'
Mackenzie added that with extremely dry conditions and high winds, getting the fire under control was a top priority in case it spread quickly.
'With 57-kilometre per hour winds, the fire travelled very quickly,' said Mackenzie. 'By the time we got there, the roof (of the house) was already gone and fire had spread through both levels of the house. With the apparatus we had, we went defensive right away -- if the fire had spread any more, the entire rural area would have been at risk.'
Mackenzie said the estimated damage to the house could reach as high as $220,000.
As for the cause of the fire, the matter is still under investigation.
For now, the Neulands are staying with Okotoks-area resident Judy Groeneveld until they can begin to rebuild another house.
'We just have to take it one day at a time,' said Neuland.
In the meantime, community groups have already begun to help.
The DeWinton Country Store and Petro Canada Neighbours Store in Okotoks are collecting donations to assist the family.
'Public support has been great,' said Neuland. 'But it's tragic that it takes something like this to realize the amount of community support that's out there.'
Webmeister Note
By Cameron Knowlton
Webmeister
Our apologies to our reader's this week... due to Shaw @ Home's excessive problems over the past 3 days, our online issue is coming to you a day late.
I'm considering a switchover to Telus Planet's high speed ADSL for greater reliability in the future.
Also note: as I'll be on vacation later this month, the November 17th issue will not be available online... please enjoy our printed edition that week.
Sincerely,
Cameron Knowlton
cameronk@igods.com
