March 7, 2020
Editorial 5
Derelict/Nuisance Property 1511 Hastings St.
City Manager Jim Puffalt and Chief Montgomery,
When I met with you and Michelle Sanson, October 2018, you asked for my expectations for the abandoned house at 1511 Hastings St.
I told you the house should be demolished or returned to a “livable state.” What didn’t you understand?
I took your silence for acceptance…
Or
…(Silence sometimes seems to be easier than facing the truth. Silence can be more powerful than hundreds of misleading words and to me being silent is just as bad as telling a pervasive lie.)
Mr Puffalt, take note: “Sealing up the property and you walking away is not an option. “That option is not part of the PROPERTY MAINTENANCE AND NUISANCE BYLAW 5484.”
The other 95% of properties on 1500 Hastings exceed the bylaw, while this property fails to meet the minimum standard. In simple terms, they are livable and are occupied; this house isn’t habitable.
The following is how the “city manager” and staff must deal with Nuisance Properties in North Battleford under there bylaw 1908:
BYLAW NO. 1908 PROPERTY MAINTENANCE AND ABATE NUISANCE
PLACARDED STRUCTURES
12. Any structure that has been a Placarded Structure for a period exceeding “three months” is deemed to be a Nuisance.
"placarded structure" means a structure which has been placarded by the Prairie North Health Region.
ORDER TO REMEDY CONTRAVENTION:
57.2 A Designated Officer may make an Order that:
h) any structure is an imminent danger to the public safety or health because it is unsecured or for any other reason;
(i) an owner or occupant arrange for inspection or assessment of a building or structure by a person of any professional designation as determined to be necessary by a Designated Officer (including, but not limited to, a registered Professional Engineer, a licensed architect, or an environmental consultant) and for submission to the City of a written report by that professional detailing the results of that inspection or assessment;
(j) an owner or occupant arrange for an environmental air quality analysis of the interior spaces (including the attic, wall and floor cavities, and crawl spaces) of a building or structure be conducted by a professional environmental or indoor air quality consultant to identify potential water or mold damage and for submission to the City of a written report of that analysis. Analysis may require inspection holes to be cut in walls, floors and ceilings and the lifting of carpets, vinyl sheet flooring or removal of wallpaper;
k) occupation of a building or structure by a person or persons as a dwelling or for any other purpose shall not be permitted or permitted to continue until such time as the Order has been complied with and compliance with the Order has been formally acknowledged by the City; or
l) all environmentally sensitive substances be removed and disposed of by an environmental contractor or Professional Cleaner and proof of such disposal be submitted to the city.
Mr. Puffalt, would I be safe to say this house doesn’t meet the minimum standard of North Battleford, the city you were city manager of before coming to Moose Jaw?
Would it be safe to say, you, Rod Montgomery and the home owner Dr. James, would be in contravention of the above bylaw as the property stands today?
Would it also be, Mr. Puffalt, safe to say a house has to be designated livable by council and must meet that standard, and the only other option is demolished by the owner of these properties?
So Mr. Puffalt, would it be safe to say your experience in North Battleford concerning Nuisance Properties could improve the outlook for citizens of Moose Jaw, living next to these properties?
Would it be safe to say you haven’t brought these improvements to Moose Jaw?
Would I also be safe to say Mr. Puffalt, you chose Chief Montgomery to be the bylaw enforcement officer, for 1511 Hastings St., to silence a citizen. His involvement has shown his lack of understanding and compassion for the residents of block 1500 Hastings.
Would I be safe to say you haven’t taken our complaint of August 15, 2018 seriously?
-- Carter Currie
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
