Concerns from residents over garbage left in a yard on Powers Lane in Langford is a good reminder to all to let the city know about bylaw infractions, says manager of municipal enforcement Lorne Fletcher.
In this particular case a number of garbage bags have been left on a lawn, attracting animals and creating a potential health concern.
Fletcher said he is aware of the issue and is going through the usual steps to solve it. After multiple attempts to contact the renting tenants of the house failed, Langford’s bylaw officers drove out to talk with the owner of the property, who lives in Saanich, who agreed to clean up the mess.
“They’ve basically said we’ll get on it, so it may even be in process in the next day or two,” said Fletcher last Thursday. “The bylaw is written in such a way that it is the owner ultimately who is responsible.”
Should a cleanup not occur in a situation like this, the city would then hire a contractor to clean up the mess and charge the cost to the homeowner.
If the homeowner didn’t pay, the cost would be added to their property taxes the following year.
The cost can be substantial.
“We always like to give people a little bit of leeway, rather than being really punitive,” Fletcher said. “If you clean it up in a reasonable amount of time, we won’t have to.”
Fletcher said they always want to know about concerns out in the community, and the more information the better when lodging a complaint.
“Give us a phone call, send us an email. We’re contactable on our website,” Fletcher said. “We love to get them that way, because it’s in writing. … We get a few people who make a few mistakes here and there. Our job is just to go in and just educate them, remind them.”
To report a bylaw infraction or a complaint visit cityoflangford.ca.