An update to a bylaw was made at last night’s meeting of Weyburn City Council. The amendment to the Property Maintenance and Nuisance Abatement bylaw will now include a schedule of fines for any property owner who does not comply with an order to clean up their yard of unsightliness.

“The Police Chief has recommended that we add a schedule of fines to the Property Maintenance and nuisance bylaw, just to deal with unsightly properties,” explained City Clerk Donette Richter. “This will help them expedite the process, hopefully, of getting properties cleaned up, and making it easier for the police to enforce.”

Richter added the new schedule of fines should provide greater impetus to have unsightly properties cleaned up in a more timely manner, since the amendment adds a schedule of fines to the bylaw, with the fine for the first offense being $250.

“This would be an initial step for them to lay charges, and then further, too, if they don’t follow the order, then there could be a second set of fees,” said Richter.

The reason for the fines is to ensure the process of abatement for problem areas is completed without too long of delays.

“It used to be it would take us approximately six weeks before we could start seeing any kind of progress,” said Richter. “This will really expedite the process and get these properties cleaned up so we can get them done in the summer.”

Councillor Winston Bailey agreed it is a necessary step.

“It is just making it easier for these things to not drag on,” said Bailey. “We have seen on this in the past, that this can drag out almost all summer long without this step being taken.”

After three full readings, the amendment was passed unanimously by City Council.

“I think that will help, for sure, our work within the community, to keep especially our back alleys are where we’ve seen some issues,” Bailey added. “It’s just a tool to work with to make it happen a little cleaner and a little better.”

The new bylaw, 2018-3389, amends bylaw 2004-3021 to include a schedule of fines. The fine for the first offense is $250, the second is $500 and the third is $1,000.