Unsightly properties ordered to clean up their act

Council accepted for information a bylaw report written by bylaw enforcement officer Jason Schreiber in regards to bylaw activity for the month of January during their regular meeting on Feb. 18. Schreiber was not in attendance at the meeting to make the report.

The report indicates there were multiple traffic bylaw infractions, including two open files regarding warnings for detached trailers. In one instance, it was discovered the trailer did not have a valid license plate and Schreiber contacted the Taber/Vauxhall RCMP for assistance in the matter.

Schreiber indicated he has received requests from local residents for clarification on the allowances regarding parking vehicles in alleys, particularly if  power poles are approximate property markers.

While on patrol in January, Schreiber indicated he witnessed an extra tall shed which was, on further investigation, in line with numbers set out in the Land Use Bylaw.

He also dealt with an issue regarding demolition of a detached garage in which the proper permit had not been obtained, and he said the property owners were compliant and immediately purchased the permit before finishing their work.

Schreiber has been focusing on a group of properties which he indicates have become increasingly unsightly, and issued the first 546 Order to Remedy Contraventions in order to encourage the property owner to move forward with maintenance. He indicated there is a “minor oversight” in the currently enacted Unsightly Bylaw in regards to the number of vehicles allowed on a residential property, and he plans on bringing a change request to the next bylaw meeting.

The current number of vehicles allowed is no more than one, and Schreiber indicated that number should be increased to reflect the fact many families now own more than one car.

Finally, Schreiber dealt with an instance of stunting in which a local resident was operating a riding lawn mower while on ice and on Town of Vauxhall property.

He is also in the process of mailing notices to residents who do not currently have their proper civic addresses displayed on their homes and businesses.

In all, there were 14 reports dealing with local bylaw issues in January, including:

Five traffic issues;

Two land use issues;

Four nuisance or unsightly issues;

One fire protection issue; and

Two miscellaneous complaints.

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