Although Preston Folbar had a month to comply with a property maintenance order to clean up his yard and didn’t, city council gave him extra time to fulfill the order anyway.
The municipality’s bylaw enforcement officer visited Folbar’s property at 81 Daisy Crescent in March after receiving complaints about his yard. The officer noted there was an accumulation of tools, building materials, a snow blower and an appliance stored in the front and side yards.
The bylaw officer sent Folbar a letter on March 26 saying he had until April 7 to clean up the yard. A follow-up inspection on April 8 discovered no work had been done. Another order to comply was sent on April 8 by regular mail and posted on the home’s front.
The order gave Folbar until April 23 to clean up his property. If he didn’t, he could have faced prosecution and a fine up to $10,000.
In reply, Folbar sent a letter to city hall on April 18 appealing the property maintenance order. He then spoke to city council during its most recent May executive committee meeting.
Council presentation
Folbar recently had three trees dug up four loads of dirt trucked in to fill those holes and raise the height of the lawn, Folbar told council. He never spoke to anyone from city hall about his yard and only received the notices by mail.
There were 15 bags of shredded paper sitting on the property that Folbar hoped to work into the dirt to help him plant his new lawn. He had another load of dirt he wanted to put on but was waiting until the shredded paper had been worked into the soil.
The bags of shredded paper were one issue Folbar thought the bylaw enforcement had a problem with.
There was a snow blower in his front yard, but he keeps it there over the winter since he is physically limited in movement, he said. The machine has a 12 horsepower engine and is also difficult to move.
Folbar normally has a friend move the snow blower to a farm when spring arrives. However, he wasn’t able to get out there since the snow banks were eight feet in height at the time.
“No one (from city hall) had the audacity to come talk to me, aside from generic letters,” he said. “What they were bellyaching about, I don’t know … I’m in the dark about everything.”
Coun. Chris Warren pointed out the letters sent to Folbar mandated that he clean up his yard. The municipality has a property maintenance bylaw to ensure yards don’t become unsightly or untidy.
“In looking at the pictures (of the yard), this is legitimate,” Warren continued, adding Folbar had until April 23 to follow the cleanup order.
Folbar reiterated that he planned to work the shredded paper into the soil, while he was waiting for a friend to move the snow blower.
Warren then recommended that the property maintenance order be upheld, but amended it to give Folbar until Thursday, June 13 to fulfill it. Council then unanimously approved the recommendation.
Council has to approve the recommendation during the next regular council meeting for it to become official.
The next regular meeting is Monday, May 27.
