The Regional District of Nanaimo board is in favour of renewing a cellphone tower deal with Rogers Communications Inc.
Under a statutory right of way agreement in place since 2003, the communications company pays a rental fee to have the tower situated at the regional district's 6300 Hammond Bay Rd. location. At Tuesday's committee of the whole meeting, directors gave their support to renew the contract with an annual fee of $12,600 until 2018 and the allowance of an additional five-year extension beginning June 2023.
The regional district and Rogers entered into an agreement in 2008 for three straight five-year terms. The board supported a proposal from Rogers last April that increased the yearly fee from $10,500 to $11,550 but turned down two additional five-year extensions, prompting Rogers to offer a new proposal, featuring the increased fee and only the extension beginning in 2023.
According to Joan Harrison, regional district director of corporate services, Rogers will have to give notification of of its desire to renew the agreement prior to each five-year extension.
"The annual rate will be adjusted based on market rates for similar statutory rights of way and require board approval of the rate prior to renewal,” Harrison said.
Any future extensions, should they be requested by Rogers, would require board approval,” she said.
While the regional district board showed support at the committee of the whole meeting, it will be forwarded to the regular board meeting on Feb. 25 for further consideration.