The City of Thompson is putting extra emphasis on ensuring property standards are enforced as part of their annual city-wide spring clean up, and this year they're counting on local businesses to do their part to keep the community looking neat and tidy.
Ian Thompson, fire chief for the City of Thompson, who is also in charge of bylaw enforcement, building inspection, animal control and more, and Bridget Schwartz, a bylaw officer with the city, were at the Thompson Chamber of Commerce's luncheon meeting on April 14 to talk to local businesses about property standards.
Property standards include such things as keeping walls and windows in good repair, replacing materials that have been damaged, keeping steps and stairs in good repair, yard maintenance, the removal of derelict vehicles and more. Schwartz says the city is also looking at enforcing other bylaws that deal with graffiti and garbage enclosures.
A letter was sent out to local businesses from the City of Thompson via the Chamber of Commerce about a month ago, which Thompson says council distributed because of the vast number of citizens that told the city they wanted property standards to be a priority at last fall's public meetings. The letters outline that property standards are a high priority for city council.
"We'll try to work co-operatively with you to get these standards met," Thompson told the businesses assembled. "We understand that some of the things are financial and do require a budget, and that's where we're quite willing to work with businesses."
Prairie Bylaw Enforcement (PBLE) officers have been trying to crack down on property standards offences, but Coun. Stella Locker says that even more emphasis needs to be placed on the issue, especially in the downtown core. At a city council meeting on April 12, she said bylaw officers should be focusing on these standards while at the same time focusing on the problems of loitering and open liquor.
According to PBLE, a total of 11 notices about property standards infractions were opened and closed in January, five in February, and 23 opened and 17 closed in March, with the majority of the infractions dealing with garbage.
