Shhh! Don’t tell anyone -- Morson/Bergland Tower funding approved

Ken Johnston

It is probably one of the worst kept secrets in the region. Funding for the new broadband/cell towers in the Morson/Bergland has been unofficially approved.
About a month ago the word was told to citizens in that area that FedNor had approved about $400,000 for the project which would see the erection of two new towers, one in Bergland and one in Morson. However, no official announcement has yet been made from either FedNor or Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Ken Boshcoff.
In the mean time an advertisement appeared in the Record on September 13, 2005, seeking public comment on Thunder Bay Telephone’s application to erect one of the towers on crown land in Morson Twp. The proposal is being evaluated by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources under the Class Environmental Assessment for MNR Resource Stewardship and Facility Development Projects. The deadline for public comments was Sept. 24th.
Boshcoff said last week that, “I know the project has been approved from the federal side of things but I think the reason for no formal announcement is we are waiting for the environmental assessment to be completed.”
Barring any complications with the assessment, Boshcoff would like to see the official nod as soon as possible. “I am the type of guy who likes to get things done as soon as possible,” said Boshcoff noting that he has not put the announcement on hold to use as election ammunition.
He also paid high compliments to the residents of Morson and Bergland for jumping through all the right hoops they were supposed to. “We sat down together last fall and I showed them what they needed to do to get the job done and they did it.”
Once all the “I’s” are dotted and “T’s” crossed the construction of the broadband towers will move ahead rapidly. It is expected that cell service will be piggybacked on them and once they are turned on low cost high speed internet will be available across the west end of the Rainy River District. At present Thunder Bay Tel offers high speed internet but at a commercial rate of $65 per month. That is expected to drop by about $20-$25 once the expanded system is in place.