Letter to the Editor

The Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) is planning to erect a telecommunications tower at Wasa as part of the initiative to bring broadband to rural areas.

There as been an old 68-foot tower located at Wasa for over 30 odd years. It is situated beside the local Memorial Garden and Cemetery.

The CBT has been very negligent in communicating with Wasa residents about the full scope of the project. The CBT initially proposed using the existing tower. Now, after engineering tests, they are going to erect a 120-foot tower.

On Sept. 22, CBT and Regional District of East Kootenay officials met with a few citizens at the tower location to discuss their concerns around the lack of communication over the increased size of the tower.

I urge the CBT to re-open the public communication process given the doubling in size of the tower.

The residents of Wasa must be given ample opportunity to review the technical changes to the tower.

CBT must be held accountable for its lack of effective communication to Wasa residents. It is not acceptable that CBT officials fall back on the old tired refrain of having gone through “the process” and “follow communication protocols,” and then substantially change the project after the public consultation process has closed.

The tower should in fact be re-located at least two kilometres away from the Memorial Garden and Cemetery.

I urge Industry Canada and NAV Canada to suspend the CBT’s license application until they move the tower location away from the cemetery.

Nowell Berg,

Wasa

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