Residents fighting proposed cell towers in their community have said Telus did not follow notification guidelines.

"There's a big problem with the whole procedure here about how these carriers are supposed to talk to a community. We are at an extreme disadvantage and that has to change," Matt Fisher told CTV News.

The Greenfield Community met this morning to discuss two proposed cell towers planned for the area.

According to their website both Telus and Rogers Communications have been working to set up cell towers.

Telus has been looking at property of the Greenfield Baptist Church as 114 Street and 37 A Avenue.

The site was expected to be operational by December.

The community league also said they believe the Dayspring Church has signed a contract with Rogers but no application has been made to the city at this time.

"They don't believe our concerns are valid,"Fisher said. "They believe that the group that we have amassed here today is just a vocal minority."

A Telus spokesperson said that of the 57 homes in the direct notification area only 17 have responded to their notice.

Telus said it was still in the consultation phase but had a difficult decision to make.

"It's not an easy decision here. We've got to weigh the needs of those that are opposed to the tower with those that actually need the service," Telus spokesperson Jim Johannsson said.

"We know that 14 to 18 months from now we'll have a capacity problem," he added.

The city said it was a federal issue.

"It's a federal responsibility and we've tried to get around it and do some things but it's the federal government," Mayor Stephen Mandel said.

"We don't have any authority to stop them."

Those who attended Saturday's meeting said a decision was made without proper consultation with the community.

Coun. Don Iveson said in a blog that it was up to Industry Canada to approve cell tower locations not the city.

"I know feelings are very strong on this but the City will not take a position on the health questions," he wrote.

"The City's position, as I understand it, is that those questions are addressed by the Federal Government, specifically Health Canada," Coun. Iveson added.

Mandel said it was a requirement for the companies proposing the towers to hold public hearings.

"If they don't have that then that's one way we can try to stop the towers," he explained.

Iveson said he would not be able to attend the meeting and offered his blog as an update to the residents.

Coun. Ivenson, Coun. Karen Leibovici and Coun. Kerry Diotte have asked for a formal inquiry to improve the consultation process.

With files from Amanda Anderson