See details ~ View larger pictures

DEPOSITIONS PRESENTED TO NORFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL

September 13th, 2007
   After the abrupt closure of a previous coucil meeting, on June 27th, to address concerns about the Rogers cellular    transmitters on top of the Union Street water tower, a special council meeting was convened on September 13th and    the citizens of Simcoe were finally able to present their case.
Read what wasn't published in any of the newspapers
Read depositions...

NEWS AND COMMENTARY

SIMCOE CELLPHONE TOWER TO BE MOVED; NEIGHBOURS COMPLAIN OF ILLNESS
By: Cheryl Bauslaugh. www.brantfordexpositor.ca
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
   Local News - Norfolk councillors have decided to get rid of a cellphone tower in the centre of Simcoe that residents    say is a health risk.
Read Story...

DOCTORS WEIGH IN ON CELL TOWER DISPUTE
Rogers transmitter downtown back on the agenda at Norfolk council
By: Monte Sonnenberg www.simcoereformer.ca
Friday April 20, 2007
   Cellphone transmitters are back on the front burner now that 11 local doctors have weighed in on the dispute.
Read Story...

NORFOLK DOCTORS WANT CELL TOWER MOVED
By Cheryl Bauslaugh, www.brantfordexpositor.ca
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
   Local News Area doctors are asking Norfolk Council to have another try at removing Rogers Wireless equipment from    the Simcoe water tower.
Read Story...

Council erupts
MEETING DISSOLVES as OPP called in
Kate Schwass www.simcoereformer.ca
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
   No need to wait until Canada Day for fireworks - there were lots last night at Norfolk County council.
Read Story...

NORFOLK MAYER PULLS PLUG ON MEETING
Cheryl Bauslaugh www.brantfordexpositor.ca
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
   Local News - Opponents of the Simcoe cell tower were outraged Tuesday, after Norfolk County Mayor Dennis Travale    abruptly cancelled a council meeting before they had a chance to speak.
Read Story...

From: Magda Havas
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Subject: Cell Phone Antennas in Simcoe
   Cell phone antennas on a water tower in Simcoe Ontario has been a thorn in the side of residences who believe their    illlnesses are associated with the radio frequencies from these antennas. Readings in the backyard of one residence    are well over 0.2 microW/cm2 and exceed the recommended Salzburg guideline of 0.1 microW/cm2 but are within    Health Canada's guideline of 1000 microW/cm2.
Read Story...

From: Anca Gaston
To: Jim Oliver (Councilor for Norfolk County)
Sent: June 29, 2007
Subject: Democracy Failing in Norfolk County, Ontario
   Dear Councillor Oliver,
   I write in response to Mayor Travale's accusations and comments made on Tuesday, June 26th on the issue of the    Union St. Simcoe cell phone tower. I was one of the individuals on the deputation list. Since neither the deputees nor    the councillors were allowed to respond at the council meeting, please allow me to offer this rebuttal in the form of    an email.
Read Story...

NO BUDGING ON CELL TOWER; ROGERS STICKING TO POLICY THAT IT WON'T MOVE ONE FROM SIMCOE WATER TOWER
By Cheryl Bauslaugh www.brantfordexpositor.ca
September 13, 2007
   Brant MP Lloyd St. Amand said he's "not surprised" by the ongoing refusal of Rogers Wireless to remove cell antennas    from the Simcoe water tower.
Read Story...


back to top

SIMCOE CELLPHONE TOWER TO BE MOVED; NEIGHBOURS COMPLAIN OF ILLNESS
Cheryl Bauslaugh
www.brantfordexpositor.ca
Wednesday, June 07, 2006

Local News - Norfolk councillors have decided to get rid of a cellphone tower in the centre of Simcoe that residents say is a health risk.
After hearing from more than 20 people in an often emotional five-hour debate Tuesday, council voted to move recently installed Rogers Wireless Inc. antennae on the Simcoe water tower - even though it could cost the county an estimated $300,000.
“I’m proud to be a resident of Norfolk County,” said Dan Currie, who first raised the issue in February, shortly after the antennae were installed.
“Council was receptive and concerned about the welfare of its citizens,” said Currie, who has been unable to live in his century home on Union Street because of symptoms such as nausea, headaches, fatigue and dizziness that he says are caused by the cell tower.
“I was fine before the antennae went up and I’m fine when I’m not at home,” he told council.
Students in the senior law class at Simcoe Composite School did a survey of residents in the area - which is close to Elgin Avenue School and Norfolk General Hospital - and discovered several more residents with similar symptoms.
To date, 17 people have reported recurring illnesses since the cell tower was installed.
Read more... No evidence
Staff said there’s no conclusive evidence linking radio frequency waves with illness. And they noted that the cell tower meets federal health and safety regulations in regard to exposure levels.
But Mayor Rita Kalmbach said she’d rather err on the side of caution when it comes to people’s health.
“When I hear people say they only get sick at home, when they’re close to the tower, I have to believe there’s something to this,” she said.
“I believe we have to do what is right and good. But it is going to cost all the people of Norfolk County considerable money.”
Just how much money isn’t clear. When Kalmbach asked a Rogers representative about the possibility of getting out of the lease before the March 31, 2008, expiry date, Jack Hills said that will be up to the company’s lawyers to decide.
He was also non-committal about the possibility that Rogers might voluntarily move its cell tower to another site.
“It’s not our policy,” he said, adding that the tower is operating within guidelines set by Health Canada and Industry Canada.
“The alleged fear can be mitigated by the guidelines.”
Hills also noted that Rogers has many other telecommunications towers that are close to hospitals and schools. Some, in fact, are on top of schools.
However, Magna Havas, an environmental scientist at Trent University, told council that Canada’s guidelines aren’t as stringent as those in other countries. She cited studies that show an increased risk of cancer, as well as symptoms such as headaches, insomnia and nausea, when people live within 400 metres of a cell tower.
“I think there’s enough evidence to cause a concern. I recommend not allowing antennae within 400 metres of schools, homes or buildings where people work.”
Havas said she is particularly concerned about the risk to students at Elgin because children are more vulnerable to developing cancer than adults.
Council directed staff to begin negotiating a way out of the lease agreement as soon as possible. County manager Bill Allcock said that process will begin this week but he’s not sure how long it will take before the cell tower finds a new home - or what the cost will be to taxpayers. He said Rogers will have to find an alternate location before the antennae can be removed.
Coun. Roger Geysens voted in favour of moving the cell tower but he warned that this might be the start of similar requests from other county residents who live near cell towers.
“I certainly don’t want to put children at risk but there’s not very many places in Norfolk County where you’re not gong to be within 400 metres of some residents.
“I think we’re asking for some very difficult times.”
ID- 62763

back to top

DOCTORS WEIGH IN ON CELL TOWER DISPUTE
Rogers transmitter downtown back on the agenda at Norfolk council
By: Monte Sonnenberg SIMCOE REFORMER
Friday April 20, 2007

Cellphone transmitters are back on the front burner now that 11 local doctors have weighed in on the dispute.
In a letter to Norfolk council dated April 2, the doctors ask Norfolk to redouble its efforts to relocate a cellphone antenna on the water tower beside Elgin Avenue Public School in Simcoe. The antenna belongs to Rogers Communications, which has entered into a long-term agreement with the county to broadcast from the tower.
"There is an increasing body of evidence linking the radio frequency radiation emitted from cellphone towers to serious health effects including cancers and childhood leukemia," the letter says.
"These studies further state that more research needs to be done to fully understand the health consequences of this type of technology and to use the precautionary principle of not locating cellphone towers near schools, hospitals or in residential areas."
Dr. Jeff Tschirhart of Simcoe, Haldimand and Norfolk’s former acting medical officer of health, circulated the letter to his colleagues for their endorsement. Other signatories include Dr. William Wynveen, Dr. Don Williamson, Dr. Peter Nagrani, Dr. Brad Bobby, Dr. Mark Ghesquiere, Dr. Gary Soenen, Dr. Anna Trzciewiecki - all of Simcoe - and Dr. Harold Hynscht of Port Dover and Dr. Mark Miller.
"It is impossible at this time to feel comfortable knowing a cellphone tower is located near an elementary school," the letter says. "The levels of exposure (to electromagnetic waves) on a daily basis for these young people are not consistent with prudent health policy at this time. Action is required to minimize or eliminate the potential risks. Simply put, the tower must be moved away from school children where health and immune systems may be less resistant than an adult’s."

Yesterday, Wynveen said his colleagues are not asserting that cellphone transmitters are unsafe. Rather, they are concerned that there is no definitive proof that they are benign.
Wynveen cited a report this week which suggests microwave energy from cellphone transmitters may be a factor in the mysterious collapse of honeybee colonies across the United States. Until questions like these and others are answered, Wynveen said extreme care should be taken with the deployment of this technology.
The letter will be tabled at next Tuesday’s meeting of Norfolk council. As of yesterday, three people had asked to speak about the issue as deputations.
Residents in the area of Elgin Avenue Public School lobbied intensively for the removal of the Rogers transmitter last year. Norfolk public works entered negotiations with Rogers for the termination of the lease. Rogers has refused to budge, saying the tower complies with Health Canada standards for microwave transmitters. During an in-camera session Oct. 24, council directed public works staff to terminate negotiations with the broadcaster.
During last year’s deliberations, a Health Canada doctor assured Norfolk council that the Rogers tower was not a threat to human health. Also last year, Dr. Tschirhart, in his capacity as acting MOH, refused in a letter to be drawn in to the debate.
"Typically, if there are extraordinary health issues in a community, the local physicians would contact the health unit if they suspected environmental conditions that were adversely affecting their patients," Tschirhart said in his letter last summer. "The Ministry of Health, through their data collection from various sources, also identify spikes in conditions that they investigate. To date, we have received no such reports from any physician or the Ministry of Health."
Tschirhart did not return a phone call by press time yesterday. Also unavailable was Dr. Malcolm Lock, Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk’s Medical Officer of Health.
Monte Sonnenberg
519-426-3528 ext. 150
msonnenberg@bowesnet.com


back to top

NORFOLK DOCTORS WANT CELL TOWER MOVED
By Cheryl Bauslaugh, Expositor Staff
Local News
Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Area doctors are asking Norfolk Council to have another try at removing Rogers Wireless equipment from the Simcoe water tower.
Council abandoned its efforts to have the equipment relocated last October, after finding out that it would cost at least $316,000 to get out of a long-term lease with Rogers. But a letter from 11 local physicians urges councillors to reopen negotiations with Rogers and have the equipment moved to a “more responsible” location.
“There is an increasing body of evidence linking the radio frequency radiation emitted from cellphone towers to serious health effects, including cancers and childhood leukemia,” says the letter, dated April 2.
“It is impossible at this time to feel comfortable knowing a cellphone tower is located near an elementary school. The levels of exposure on a daily basis for these young people are not consistent with prudent health policy at this time. Action is required to minimize or eliminate the potential risks. Simply put, the tower must be moved away from school children where health and immune systems may be less resistant than an adult’s.”
The letter is signed by Dr. Jeff Tschirhart, former acting medical officer of health for Norfolk, and 10 other doctors in Simcoe, Port Dover and Jarvis.
About 20 people living near the tower, which is close to Elgin Avenue School and Norfolk General Hospital, have complained about symptoms such as nausea, dizziness and headaches since the Rogers antenna was installed last February.
Hardest hit is Dan Currie, who is unable to live in his home, located just below the tower. Currie will be one of several people appearing at tonight’s council session to ask politicians to revisit the issue.
Also throwing his support behind Currie and his neighbours is Brant MP Lloyd St. Amand. He has contacted Industry Canada, which regulates telecommunication towers, asking them to intervene in the situation.
St. Amand acknowledged that the Simcoe tower is meeting Health Canada safety standards. But, like the physicians, he believes more study is needed to rule out a possible health risk.
“I have asked Industry Canada to check and recheck that our standards are not falling behind other jurisdictions,” St. Amand said on Monday. He said many European countries have banned cellphone towers in locations that are close to schools and houses.
“Maybe our standards are substandard, compared to other jurisdictions,” he said. “Let’s have a real careful look at this.”

View Letter from Norfolk Doctors

back to top

Council erupts
MEETING DISSOLVES as OPP called in
Kate Schwass
http://www.simcoereformer.ca
Wednesday, June 27, 2007

No need to wait until Canada Day for fireworks - there were lots last night at Norfolk County council.
Emotions regarding the cellphone antenna on the Union Street water tower boiled over, prompting Mayor Dennis Travale to abruptly end the meeting as Norfolk OPP were called into the council chambers.
About 70 people were in the gallery and 20 of those ready to give deputations on the cellphone tower issue when council came to that item on the agenda around 7:45 p.m. But before the public was allowed to speak, Travale took about 15 minutes to lay some ground rules and explain what would and would not be admissible information.
It was an emotional speech for the mayor, who had to stop part way through to compose himself after addressing the issue of cancer and cellphone towers.
"I know how devastating and worrying such a diagnosis can be and the last thing anyone wants is some rogue running through the neighbourhood" suggesting the tower has caused cancer in local residents, he said.
He said the council wants scientific proof, "not some mumbo jumbo taken off the Internet."
People in the gallery scoffed and began talking after that comment but Travale was quick to regain order.
"If you can’t behave, you can leave," he warned, banging his gavel.
"Running around claiming the children are at risk, that it’s causing cancer . . . that the sky is falling is fearmongering," he then continued. "Council will not make an emotional decision on this or any other issue."
As the deputations were set to begin leading off with Geoff Saldanha, Elgin Avenue resident Keith Simpson approached the podium. Travale banged his gavel and asked Simpson to sit down as he had not yet been recognized by council (Simpson was No. 17 on the list of delegations) but Simpson remained at the podium, trying at times to speak over Travale.
"I am appalled by this council. We have just been given a lecture and dressing down," Simpson said between gavel bangs.
Travale recessed the meeting and members of council left the chamber. Travale said the meeting would reconvene once Simpson had returned to his seat.
After about five minutes of talking at the podium, Simpson did take his seat and councillors and Norfolk County staff members began returning to the chamber.

As Travale approached his seat, Simpson again stood and took the podium.
"You are not recognized," Travale said, again banging the gavel. "Sit down."
Simpson again refused to sit down, saying he wanted to address Travale’s speech prior to the delegations and ask a procedural question.
"Clear the chamber or we will call the police," Travale said before banging the gavel and again walking out of the chamber followed by some members of council.
A few minutes later County Manager Bill Allcock told the group the meeting was over.
Councillor John Wells attempted to reason with angry citizens.
"We were quite prepared to listen," Wells said. "All the mayor asked was would Mr. Simpson sit down . . . The procedure is simple. You cannot speak in this chamber until you are recognized by the mayor."
Wells added a few minutes later, "Council is finished for this evening."
Allcock told the Reformer a decision will need to be made by the mayor and members of council on how best to proceed.
Last night’s meeting was never officially closed.
Those still wanting to discuss the cellphone tower issue last night remained in the chambers for well over an hour after Mayor Travale left the building with a Norfolk OPP officer looking on.
Dr. Magda Havas was prepared to present new health information about cellphone towers to council last night and was disappointed with how things turned out.
"I was stunned by his lack of professionalism. I’m in a bit of a state of shock," Havas said. "He does not have the emotional control."
She said she would consider coming back to a future meeting to discuss the issue, but "I honestly don’t think (residents will) get a fair hearing."
Resident Danielle Pender lives 125 metres from the water tower and wanted to present an e-mail she received from Travale when he was a candidate for mayor. The e-mail from Travale, dated Oct. 25 at 8:10 a.m. said he had "great sympathy" for their situation.
"It is my position that this situation is a prime example where the ‘precautionary principle’ could and should be used," he wrote.
Pender said she felt "disgust" over what happened in the council chambers and wanted to know between that e-mail and now, "what’s changed?"
Councillor Charlie Luke chatted with concerned citizens, but said he couldn’t explain why the mayor had walked out or what caused it.
"In six and a half months, I have not seem him operate that way," Luke said. "Somebody got to him."
Resident George Furry said despite the meeting ending quickly, there are likely more fireworks on the way because this issue isn’t going away.
"Anyone who thinks they’re affected should appear at town council," he said.
A call and e-mail to Mayor Travale last night by the Reformer were not returned.

back to top

NORFOLK MAYER PULLS PLUG ON MEETING
Cheryl Bauslaugh
www.brantfordexpositor.ca
Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Local News - Opponents of the Simcoe cell tower were outraged Tuesday, after Norfolk County Mayor Dennis Travale abruptly cancelled a council meeting before they had a chance to speak.
"This is so disappointing, that it had to come to this," said Geoff Saldanha, one of 20 scheduled speakers on the cell tower issue. "What would have been an important meeting, with a lot of good information, was stopped, because of procedure."
Travale started the meeting by warning presenters that he would only listen to new information on the issue. Residents have raised concerns about possible health risks since Rogers Wireless equipment was installed on the Simcoe water tower last year.
The mayor also criticized the lack of scientific evidence provided to council and said it was "fear mongering" to link neighbourhood cases of cancer to the cell tower.
"It's an ill-advised attempt to incite panic, like yelling fire in a darkened theatre," said Travale. "I know how devastating such a diagnosis can be."
When Keith Simpson, one of the scheduled speakers, attempted to respond, Travale ordered him to sit down. Simpson, a Simcoe lawyer, continued to press his point and Travale left the council chamber.
The mayor returned minutes later and again ordered Simpson to sit down. When Simpson continued to speak, Travale declared the meeting over and exited the building.
A call to his home was answered by his wife, Barb, who said Travale would have no comment to make that evening.
Simpson said he was "appalled" at Travale's behaviour. "We just received a dressing down and then, we were not given an opportunity to respond."
Kelly Currie, whose husband, Dan, has symptoms so severe that he is unable to live in the family home - located just below the tower - was close to tears at the sudden turn of events.
"It's extremely upsetting," she said. "We had new medical information to present."
Dan Currie first raised a red flag about the cell equipment more than a year ago, after he began suffering severe headaches, dizziness and loss of memory whenever he was near his Union Street home. Doctors at Toronto's Sunnybrook Hospital recently diagnosed him as being sensitive to electromagnetic fields.
Currie said he was offended by the mayor's comments and dismayed by the meeting's cancellation.
"Democracy was denied tonight," he said. "The mayor took shots at me liberally, without allowing anyone to respond."
Coun. Charlie Luke said he's never seen a meeting cancelled over procedure in his almost 28 years as a municipal representative. He's hoping the session will be rescheduled soon.
"I hope everything will cool down so that we can get back to business."
Just when that will happen is up in the air.
County manager Bill Allcock said the clerk must provide 48 hours notice before scheduling a meeting. That means it would be Friday morning, at the earliest, before a makeup session could be held.
The cell tower issue wasn't the only one on council's agenda Tuesday night.
The final tax rates for this year were scheduled to be passed. Allcock said that has to be done by the end of this week, so that tax bills can be sent out.
He also suggested that council may decide to hold a special council session to deal with the cell tower issue.

back to top

From: Magda Havas
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Subject: Cell Phone Antennas in Simcoe