Problem home still an issue

Residents living around a problem home on Last Road in West Kelowna say problems persist despite significant fire damage four months ago.

And, one resident told Castanet News the authorities are doing nothing about it.

The residents, who didn't want to be identified, says the home at 2449 Last Road has been a problem for years, something West Kelowna Staff Sgt. Brendan Dolan admits is accurate.

However, since the early morning fire on June 12, the resident says nothing has changed.

“There’s anywhere from two to 16 people living in the backyard. They have generators, a porta potty has been delivered,” the resident stated.

“There’s a big white tent set up in the backyard. People that were living in the house are still there along with assorted transients.”

He says it’s status quo or worse.

“We have spoken to bylaw, the RCMP, city council and it’s one big game of pass-the-buck. It’s a huge runaround.”

He says he was told the people are allowed on the property but are not allowed to stay overnight since the area is not zoned as a campground.

“We complain, nothing happens.”

Dolan acknowledged the home has been an issue for quite some time, adding formal charges were laid in some instances for several different offences.

The calls from neighbours recently have been mainly nuisance calls, he says.

“Bylaws, suspicious people, that kind of thing.

“It is a problem residence and it’s obviously on our radar. Trying to find a long-term solution for everyone involved is obviously our goal, but that takes some time and it takes working with some of our partners in the community.

There are visitors in the backyard at all sorts of hours and, obviously, it’s a concern for the neighbours. We hear it and we’ve been in contact with them through different calls for service.”

Dolan says between RCMP and bylaws they are trying to find a long-term solution that will work for everyone but says there are no quick fixes.

“We talk to the complainant then talk to the occupant. Usually people are pretty good but, in this instance it doesn’t appear that is happening,” says Dolan.

“Then you step it up to bylaw enforcement about education and noise bylaws. Then we can step it up to issuing bylaw tickets.”

Dolan does say criminal charges for mischief are not laid very often but says there is precedence for civil forfeiture if there is established criminal activity linked to the house.

While the situation is frustrating for the neighbourhood, Dolan says residents are doing the right thing by contacting police and reporting suspicious or illegal activity at the property.

“If they just stopped and said we might as well live with it, then if we are not getting reports, we have no way of knowing what’s going on.”