The cell tower location proposed by Rogers Communications has been shot down by a vote of the council, so now a new location is being sought by the company. Last Tuesday the council voted on whether to take land situated in Thickewood close to Signal Road so that Rogers Communications could use the land to install a cell tower 70 metres tall. The location is part of the environmental reserve, and when the council voted it decided not to allow the land in question to be removed from the environmental reserve and loaned to the company. Katherine King, the spokesperson for Rogers Communications, said “While we are disappointed with the decision, we will continue to work with the (Regional Municipality of) Wood Buffalo to secure an appropriate tower location. We are confident we will work together to secure this investment in Fort MacMurray and the surrounding communities’ future.”

The cell tower location proposed by Rogers Communications involved a parcel of 0.12 ha, and this location was used in the past for other public utility purposes but residents have complained about this use to council members. A construction laydown yard that was also proposed for the location was also denied by the council as well. Some area residents also questioned the aesthetics of the cell tower, saying it could become an eyesore. Fort MacMurray Mayor Melissa Blake said that the next steps are unclear, and commented “I still don’t know that we have an answer for the specific communications tower applicant that was there, but we certainly know what we’re not willing to permit in that neighbourhood at this point.”