Property owner given time

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A property owner who visited council Oct. 3 will get more time to make some of the improvements he’s been asked to on his home, however on others council will require he stick to the original timeline.

Ken Dow appeared before council to ask for more time to complete all the work he’s been asked to do to bring his property at 450 Tofield St. up to city standards.

“I think everybody knew the house needed some work,” he said, referring to it as a “piece of crap”. “Several things are wrong with it. We’re getting by and getting things done. We’ve got to do about two years work in two to three months.”

He said the city “descended upon us without even a whisper” and so the family needs more time to do what is required which includes removing debris from the property, completing roof shingling, siding, all fascia board and soffit, as well as taking down unauthorized additions and fix the roof.

Dow explained the house is about 50 years old and poor installation of the shingles caused many of the problems they are now looking at, and said every time a few shingles were taken off, a new problem was discovered.

“If I’d have been healthy I would have been done a few years ago,” he said.

Dow said he applied for a permit in August to complete some of the work, however it “was shelved” and he heard nothing more about it.

After speaking, Dow left council chambers and councillors had a chance to discuss the property. Coun. Dave Wilbur pointed out the request to fix the home could not have come as the complete surprise the home owner described.

“From what I understand, it was not the 11th hour. Every attempt was made to work with him.”

Council decided to extend the time limit on the portion of the work that the property owner needs a permit to complete until Dec. 15, however the rest of the work must be completed upon the first deadline.

Coun. Garth Frizzell asked what the consequences would be if the work wasn’t done in the given time limit.

“We could look at hiring contractors, but ideally we try to get them to do it,” said Guy Gusdal, the manager of bylaw services.

Frizzell said that was a reasonable process.

Coun. Debora Munoz said she felt the time limit should be extended 60 days for all the work.

“I don’t know if the home owner can afford contractors,” Coun. Murry Krause said. “I support Councillor Munoz.”

However the majority of council supported extending the time limit only for the work requiring a permit.