PORT McNEILL — Following the earlier lead of the Regional District of Mount Waddington Board of Directors, council voted during its regular September meeting to approve the installation of a cell phone tower by Rogers Telecommunications Inc.
The tower location is adjacent to the municipal works yard off Mine Road, and according to information provided to the local emergency planning committee, construction is expected to be completed by spring of 2012.
“Is this being done on a lease?” Coun. Shelley Downey asked during the Sept. 19 council meeting. “Are there any revenues coming back to the town from this?”
Treasurer Al Sweet answered the town would receive approximately $10,000.
Downey then asked who would be responsible for maintenance of the tower and site.
“They will,” Sweet said of Rogers. “They still need to get an easement approved to start building, but it is in process.”
Coun. Gaby Wickstrom, the council’s representative on the emergency planning committee, said that body was previously informed by Rogers of its plans to have the tower constructed by spring.
It’s the second North Island tower approved for construction by Rogers, following its successful application to the District of Port Hardy earlier this year.
The RDMW board approved the location for the Port McNeill tower during its regular meeting in August.
More art
Planning to expand a town beautification program approved earlier this summer, council voted to invite local artists interested in painting the town’s BC Hydro kiosks to submit applications and sample designs.
In August, council approved a submission for a design for one of the large, blocky kiosks on Beach Drive to be painted by Hyde Creek artist Heather Brown.
The Sept. 19 vote to advertise for additional submissions followed a request by another Port McNeill artist, Lynda Biggs, to paint a nature design on another of the BC Hydro kiosks.
The successful motion included a clause notifying applicants not all submissions would necessarily be accepted, and council retains the right of approval.
Gym for EMTs
Council retroactively approved a grant-in-aid to cover the cost for one day’s rental of the Old School gymnasium for a Primary Care Paramedic Course taken by local emergency medical responders Aug. 13.
The course was hosted by the Justice Institute of B.C.
The value of the grant-in-aid was $75 plus HST.