The MD of Bonnyville's Public Safety department is paying closer attention to unsightly properties in the region.
So far officials have responded to several property complaints that have resulted in the discovering of open holes, according to MD Director of Public Safety Chris Garner.
“There were a couple of holes that had covers on them but the covers weren't very secure,” said Garner. “We knew about those places because we had already gone there looking because of the unsightly property complaints.”
Most unsightly property complaints have been made in response to long grass and excess weeds growing in the yard. In response to complaints, MD officers give the landowner a 14-day notice to clean up the yard.
After a two-year-old girl fell down a water well near Bonnyville last month officers have been paying closer attention to open holes on properties they search.
“(The incident) has brought it more to the forefront so people are more aware,” said Garner. “The MD wants to be proactive and ensure that when we do come across (open holes) we are documenting them and ensuring that they get dealt with.”
A section of the municipal government act that deals with unsightly properties also talks about structures that are unsafe to the public.
“When we are there because of one reason and we notice something else, we recognized that we have the ability to order it to be secured or filled in,” said Garner.
“One of the unsightly properties that we went and checked had an abandoned well on it, but the well was capped with cement filled tire,” said Garner. “Yes it is extremely heavy and would be hard to move, but it could be moved. If a couple kids got together they could push it off. So that's where we require that they be properly secured or filled in.”
