During public meetings this week, people had the opportunity to ask questions and voice their concerns about two communications towers slated to be built in Tottenham and Beeton.

The 90-metre towers are proposed for locations on the northwest corner of County Road 1 and the 15th Sideroad in Beeton, and on the 3rd line in Tottenham  near the CPR rail tracks just east of Tottenham Road.

Hosted by Rogers Communications, the meetings were held at the Beeton arena on Wed., Sept. 3 and in the Tottenham Community centre Thurs., Sept. 4.

About 35 members of the public attended each meeting. Rogers had representatives at both, while Bell Canada had representation at the Beeton meeting only. Rogers and Bell plan to share use of the tower - a common practice among service providers. Telus Mobility has also expressed interest in the tower at a future date.

Debate over the towers centered on the actual locations with those living in close proximity voicing speaking up the loudest.

No one argued the fact the service is needed with both Beeton and Tottenham both known as 'dead zones' when it comes to making a call on a cell phone.

But health concerns, property values, and an obstructed view topped the list of those against the proposed locations.

"I got a letter in the mail from Rogers that they had a proposal to put the tower at that site," said Anna Soares, a property owner who lives within several hundred metres of the Beeton location. "I was worried that it was going to be like Christmas all year long with the lights. I've been told that it will devalue the property by 20 to 25 percent. I'm also worried about health risks due to radiation from the tower."

Rogers provided topographical maps showing current tower locations and existing coverage and also had maps showing the increased coverage area when the new towers go into service. But several questions arose over  taking advantage of existing towers or structure instead of erecting new ones.

"We always look for other alternatives such as existing structures," said Rogers representative Uwe Richter, a radio frequency engineer. "The location is based on our technical data. The higher frequencies used by cell phones require a direct line."

High frequency transmissions do not have the capability to 'bend' the same way that lower AM radio frequencies can.

He also pointed out that competing communications companies work together and share towers rather than each company erecting its own and more than doubling the amount of structures that would dot the landscape.

Each tower costs approximately $500,000 to put in place.

The second meeting in Tottenham raised the same concerns as the previous night but the meeting took on a slightly more structured tone with a moderator present to ensure everyone who wanted to pose a question had the opportunity to do so.

Participants were encouraged to write down their opinions both positive and negative to be submitted to Rogers for consideration. The comments will be included in a submitted report to the Town of New Tecumseth.

Not everyone who attended the meetings was against the towers.

"I can't wait for this tower to go up," said one man at the Beeton meeting. His comment received several nods of agreement from others at the meeting. The same sentiment was echoed at the Tottenham meeting by people who have been frustrated by the lack of, or spotty cell phone availability in the area.

Rogers requested that all submitted concerns be submitted to the company by by Sept. 15.

E-mail your comments on this story to herald@simcoe.com