Well over 100 residents packed Delta council chambers Monday to hear from their local MP about the highly contentious proposal to erect radio transmission towers in Point Roberts. They didn't leave too happy about what Delta-Richmond East MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay had to say.
Council discussed a staff report on the application by BBC Broadcasting Inc. to erect five 45-metre (150-foot) steel towers on an undeveloped lot on McKenzie Way, just south of the border. The towers would transmit South Asian radio station KRPI, AM 1550, which broadcasts to a Greater Vancouver audience from studios in Richmond.
The civic politicians were to consider sending another letter of concern to Whatcom County, which is currently dealing with the application and is to eventually forward it to a public hearing. However, council decided to wait another couple of weeks until it gets more information and is able to take into account what Findlay has been able to find out.
"Despite assertions to the contrary that have been circulated in the media, to Delta council and throughout our community, my staff (locally and nationally) and I continue to explore all reasonable and available opportunities to ensure that the concerns of Tsawwassen residents are heard and addressed by various American authourities responsible for decisions on this proposal," Findlay read in a presentation.
The first-term Tory MP reiterated that Industry Canada confirmed the Federal Communications Commission in the U.S. was aware of Tsawwassen and took the community into consideration when approving the application. She also noted a 30-yearold broadcasting treaty only addresses channel interference and not so-called blanketing inference by erecting towers on a rural-suburban edge.
When the MP's findings were first reported it drew the ire of many locals, who didn't buy that the fight with the FCC was over. Several people outside council chambers Monday continued to say Findlay was not fighting on their behalf, contrary to the MP's assertions she's been actively engaged on the issue. Saying the FCC considers the application over with, so efforts shouldn't be focused there, Findlay reiterated residents should put their attention on the upcoming county hearing.
A coalition of residents on both sides of the border is urging locals to call and register their name and address as a "party of record" for the KRPI hearing at Whatcom County. Findlay said more than 500 written submissions from both sides of the border have already been sent to the county.
Several speakers during the question period at Monday's council meeting voiced concerns. Point Roberts resident Armene Belles noted $35,000 has already been raised for the legal fight at the FCC level and that fundraising is taking place to raise a similar amount for the fight at Whatcom County.
Retired lawyer Ulf Ottho suggested Delta could still write directly to the FCC to voice opposition.
Delta staff will consult with their counterparts in Whatcom County as well as Ferndale, Wash., where KRPI's towers are currently located, before coming back with another report July 14.
Meanwhile, Whatcom County is still waiting for information from the applicant, which had been requested to answer concerns raised. The county sent a letter to the agent representing BBC Broadcasting, Inc. stating the application for a conditional use permit will expire on July 10 if the information is not received. On another front, residents have filed an objection with the FCC for a station licence renewal.
