(File photo/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Angela Brown

Upgrading Properties

City hopes to address problem of derelict properties

Aug 1, 2020 | 8:00 AM

The City of North Battleford has updated its list of derelict properties in the community in an effort to have some of them cleaned up.

Council supported administration’s recommendation for a resolution for administration to be authorized to proceed with property inspections and enforcement under the city’s bylaws for the sites identified on the city’s derelict properties list.

“The need is based on just the sheer number of derelict properties in the city,” Mayor Ryan Bater told battlefordsNOW. “The city receives complaints on a regular basis from neighbours, people who live around them, that they would like to see them cleaned up. So we do want to pay closer attention to that and start to take action.”

The city identified about 200 derelict properties that are vacant or in need of significant repairs.

City Planner Ryan Mackrell said in council’s meeting these repairs would be “more than a normal house would typically need.”

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He said it is crucial these buildings are repaired, primarily for safety reasons as they may be at risk of future fires. There is also a concern they can attract criminal activity as the properties are often abandoned.

Mackrell said the city plans to update the derelict properties’ list each year to make sure it is up to date. As properties obtain building permits or become demolished the list will be updated.

In the next steps in the process, the city’s building inspector will assess the properties on the list and provide a report with a recommendation to demolish the building in question or outline issues that need to be fixed. Written orders for properties will be completed based on the details of the reports. Monitoring and enforcement is the next step in the process.

City administration estimates a six to 12 month period for the process, depending on the cooperation with property owners.

Coun. Kent Lindgren indicated he hopes other levels of government are paying attention, as he said some of the properties likely have people living in them, even though they may not be safe.

“We shouldn’t have community members having to live in situations like that,” he said. “If we are removing properties and buildings that are unsafe to live in, people need places to go.”

Lindgren noted other levels of government responsible for providing affordable housing in the community need to ensure vulnerable people have safe housing to access.

Council stressed while problems with derelict properties need to be addressed, residents still need to have a place to go home.

In addressing council, Mackrell said the city always makes an effort to work with all parties involved for complex issues, including Social Services, Public Health, the RCMP and the fire department, to help direct vulnerable individuals and families to support services available in the community.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow