The Town of Drumheller is turning its attention to cleaning up some of the properties within town limits.
At the most recent meeting of the Committee of the Whole, Paul Salvatore, Director of Community Services, gave a report on the Town’s recent efforts to identify properties that need work.
“Our staff have had time to go out into the community and identify properties that we feel are derelict or unsightly according to the Community Standards Bylaw,” said Salvatore.
So far, the Town has issued 10 unsightly premise remedial orders, in which the Town gave property owners time to address the issues on their property or face significant fines.
“We’ve generally given them a couple weeks after Spring Clean Up to comply with their remedial orders,” said Salvatore.
Paul Salvatore (right) gives a report on the Town’s progress in addressing unsightly premises within the town. So far, the Town has issued 10 remedial orders under the Community Standards Bylaw and are working to identify properties posing a significant risk to public safety.
There are some properties that are considered to pose a risk to public safety and require further action.
“There are a couple properties we’ve looked at that we feel may pose more of a threat in terms of public safety, rather than just being an unsightly premise. On that basis, we will refer them to the Fire Chief under the Safety Codes Act or Municipal Governance Act,” said Salvatore. “We have to establish contact with the property owners to ensure there is an interest in that property and they’re given an opportunity to act.”
In regards to derelict buildings, ones that are entirely unoccupied, the Town can do little.
“I get the question all the time, ‘when are you guys going to do something about that old hospital?’ We can’t just tear it down, because we don’t own it. If it’s not unsightly or unsafe we can’t go to the owner and ask them to tear it down. There are fairly strict limitations what the Town can and can’t do with these buildings. The Town can’t just go and rip these building down,” said Councillor Tom Zariski.
Residents have voiced concerns that the Town’s derelict buildings, in addition to being unsafe and unsightly, reduced property values.
“I get emails every six months or so from home owners near the building (the Nacmine bar). They complain the building sits derelict and the property taxes keep increasing. They feel its affecting their property value,” said Councillor Lisa Hansen-Zacharuk.
Rather than seeking demolish such buildings, Salvatore felt there was more to be gained by working with the current owners.
“Some of these properties, like the old hospital, they do maintain to a certain extent. Probably the best option for us is to keep a relationship with an owner so we may be able to re-market, modify, or improve the parcel over time,” said Salvatore.
For the time being, the Town plans to pursue other unsightly premises and identify those posing a risk to public safety.
