The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen will conduct opinion polling August 10 to provide Hedley and immediate area residents with the opportunity to express support for a proposed 20-metre monopole cellular and data service tower.

“Although some residents of Hedley welcome the proposed tower, others have concerns,” explained Angelique Wood, Director for Area ‘G.’

“The proposed monopole would be placed on TELUS property in the community. This is raising health and safety issues and also interferes with a view of the heritage Mascot Mine site from a lookout located at the Hedley Museum.”

The non-binding polling is offered to assist involved parties in better understanding the disposition of Hedley residents toward the construction of the monopole cellular tower.

The polling will be open to all residents of Hedley, including members of the Upper Similkameen Indian Band, who live within the proposed tower’s service area.

Hedley residents will be asked: Do you support a 20-metre monopole for cellular phone and data service at 796 Scott Avenue? Yes or No.

Complete polling information and voting eligibility requirements are located at the RDOS website (www.rdos.bc.ca) The Regional District is also publishing notices in the Similkameen Spotlight, Similkameen News Leader and Keremeos Review.

Hedley is an unincorporated hamlet of about 350 located on Hwy. 3 about 29 km west of Keremeos and 38 km east of Princeton.