COUNCIL CORNER: Town of Tofield peace officers enforcing property maintenance, working with owners

Friends, over the past number of months we have discussed the many issues that we have faced collectively with COVID 19.

These issues have created concerns with financial hardship, mental and physical well being, but have also created issues in service and business disruption.

Our Municipal Operations have been consistent throughout, and service has not wavered. Unfortunately, the contracted Peace Officer services were suspended for a period of time, only recently has service to the community begun again.

Because of this suspension in service due to COVID, notices for property clean ups, grass and weed notices and general complaints were not able to be given the attention that was often required.

With the reinstatement of service, many property owners have been provided with a Notice to Maintain Letter, which provides property owners with a time frame of 10 days in which to comply with the maintenance noted on the official letters.

If compliance is not adhered to within this time frame of 10 days, a Notice of Entry is issued.

If compliance is not done within this time frame, a contractor will be sent onto the property to perform the work, at the property owner’s expense.

Administration has received feedback that theses time frames are too lengthy and should be acted upon sooner. These sentiments may be shared, however, the Municipality is required to act in accordance to legal statute, as well as the dictated measures from the Municipal Government Act.

Of note: Tofield has the shortest amount of time to have the measures performed from what is a legally permissible standpoint. For review, please see Bylaw 1308, Community Standards Bylaw, located on the Town of Tofield’s website: www.tofieldalberta.ca

Now, with all of the aforementioned, the Town and the Contracted Peace Officer are always quite open and willing to work with property owners to find remedy to situations. Often there are circumstances that have been outside of the property owner’s control such as illness or death of a loved one to name just a few.

Once again, the Town through our Peace Officer are open to working towards reasonable resolve, often outside of the time frames provided. It is important that each of us work towards the betterment of our community, this includes property aesthetics and the many important measures and lessons we have been provided with the presence of COVID 19.

Respectfully submitted,

Mayor and Council

Town of Tofield