To their credit, Rogers Communications appears at least willing to listen to local residents who don’t want anything to do with a huge cellphone tower being proposed to be built on beautiful vineyard land on the north end of Osoyoos.

Even though the 35-metre (115 feet) tower would be located on land situated in the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS), members of Town of Osoyoos council discussed the issue briefly during Monday’s regular meeting.

Mayor Sue McKortoff said she and members of council have talked to Rogers telecommunications brass about the cellphone tower, which their application to Industry Canada indicates would be built near 122nd Avenue just north of town limits near the Shell gas station on Hwy. 97.

McKortoff urged any local citizens with concerns about this proposal to not sit quietly and send their complaints and concerns to Rogers’ management or the RDOS board.

Senior management from Rogers made it very clear they will listen to every complaint from citizens who have concerns about this project, said McKortoff.

“The RDOS is more involved in this than we are … but Rogers made it very clear they will respond to complaints and they are complying with all Industry Canada standards,” she said.

Two Osoyoos homeowners in the area of the proposed cell tower – Martin Sadd and Jacob de Raadt – have started a petition opposing the cellphone tower application by Rogers.

All members of the public have until end of business on Feb. 23 to launch their complaints to Rogers management.

Rogers management made it clear to council members that they are taking all complaints seriously and would strongly consider holding a public meeting in Osoyoos if there is sufficient opposition to the application.

The RDOS board, which McKortoff is a member of, is also moving forward with a plan to establish a cellphone tower policy across the regional district, she said.

If there is enough public backlash, complaints and vocal opposition, there’s a very good chance Rogers could change its mind about building this large tower on such a pristine location so close to town.

It’s not likely they will cancel the project, but there’s a strong argument to be made that a much more suitable location could be found.

If there isn’t strong public backlash, this project will proceed. And that would be a shame.