'Going to be an eyesore': Warman residents oppose cell tower replacement
A Warman man is organizing opposition to a cell tower SaskTel is proposing to replace on the western edge of the city.
Milt Block received notice in his mailbox that SaskTel intends to replace a 15-metre cell tower in Kessler Park with a 35-metre tower in the same location to upgrade the coverage area from 4G to 5G.
"We have some concerns about the location of a 35 meter tower that's placed you know, right in the middle of a green space in the middle of a well developed residential area," he said. "Our question is, why here?"
Block and a few others created www.warmanvoice.com to lay out their concerns and organize a petition against the replacement of the tower. In a few days, more than 100 people in Warman have signed the petition.
Block says he's not against improved cellular service, but he is opposed to the visual aesthetic such a large tower could create in the park.
"What I'm not crazy about is what I think is going to be an eyesore," he said.
SaskTel communications manager Greg Jacobs says the proposed tower replacement is one of two happening in the community, and part of more than 1,000 cell towers being upgarded with 5G capabilities as part of the company's $500 million effort its undertaken since 2021.
Jacobs said that sight was chosen for a new tower because the existing tower can't handle the weight of the new 5G equipment. The tower also needs to be built higher to improve coverage since 5G signals don't travel as far the existing 4G signals.
"Instead of moving a tower into an area where it won't provide the coverage characteristics that we want -- and will add a significant amount of time and cost to moving a tower -- it's more ideal for us and for our customers if we build the new structure where the existing structure is," Jacobs said.
Block suggested other areas in the city where a tower of that size could be placed, like a nearby Rogers tower to the west or near the Legends centre, which is more of an industrial area.
SaskTel says they looked at all options available and landed on the existing tower at Kessler Park as the best fit.
"From what we've seen that tower is fully loaded," Jacobs said of the Rogers tower to the west. "There is nothing that we can add to it and it's not suitable for our needs."
Jacobs also said the location of the tower would affect the coverage for the area.
A second tower in the city, located directly in a residential area, is also slated for replacement. Jacobs said that tower hasn't received any negative feedback or attention.
"For one reason or another, some individuals will raise concerns over a project that might be closer to them than other projects," Jacbos said.
Warman residents have until April 7 to submit written public comments about their concerns with the proposed project. After that, SaskTel compiles all the comments and sends them to the federal innovation, science and economic development department office with a recommendation to either move forward or scrap the project.
The project timeline could take either weeks or years to build the tower from that point on, depending on all the variables the federal government has to weigh.
Construction, if approved, would only take one to two weeks, according to Jacobs.
The City of Warman says it is asking SaskTel to share any information it has regarding the public consultation phase of the project.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
What Canadians think of the latest Liberal budget
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Her fiance has been in prison for 49 years. She's trying to free him before it's too late
Christine Roess is a retired consultant. Ezra Bozeman has spent the last 49 years in prison, serving a life sentence for a murder he says he didn’t commit. Against the odds, the two fell in love.