The issue of an unsightly property in Ponoka County has returned to councillors after the deadline for cleanup had passed.
Last October, councillors ordered landowner Albert Brown, who lives on Elkhorn Road south of Highway 53, to organize his yard and clean up old equipment. He was given until May 31 to complete the job, but there is still work to be done.
CAO Charlie Cutforth suggested the county needs to specify what exactly needs to be done if it were to take Brown to court over the issue. “Really what it boils down to is the county is going to have to decide, more specifically, what is acceptable and what isn’t.”
Coun. Doug Weir feels the property is closer to a commercial operation than farmland and suggests Brown should be treated as operating a business, which would increase his taxes.
It is believed Brown sells parts from equipment he buys, and Cutforth said the county could adjust the tax levels for the property but Reeve Paul McLauchlin was unsure on that course of action.
He feels if council changes the taxes, the county is endorsing the unsightly yard.
“It’s a slippery slope,” added Coun. Bryce Liddle.
The issue of the unsightly premises came when neighbours, Gary and Pascale Duff, made a complaint to the county. Since then Brown and the Duffs have had issues over equipment, which can be seen from Elkhorn Road and the Duff’s property.
“Frankly, as long as that stuff is there, I don’t think Mr. Duff will be satisfied,” explained Cutforth.
He does feel Brown has made some significant improvements since the county ordered him to clean up the yard.
County Peace Officer, Les Squires has been checking in on Brown to ensure the job gets done but tensions are rising with the landowner.
“He basically told me if I came on his land again that one of us would not be walking out of there,” Squires told councillors during the meeting.
He did add that Brown has made significant improvements and there are only a few bigger units that need to be moved.
Cutforth said he has since spoken with Brown and asked him to move the last of the units on the property.