MARIJUANA GROW OPS WON'T ESCAPE FROM MUNICIPAL CLUTCHES

A couple of absentee homeowners risk losing their houses in West
Kelowna if they don't deal with claims that their properties were once
used as marijuana grow operations.

Coun. Gord Milsom said that by placing notices on title this week at
1605 McNaughton Rd. and 2470 Boucherie Rd., council has sent a strong
message that grow ops are not acceptable in West Kelowna.

"They'll be found and they will be shut down," Milsom
stated.

The RCMP said officers raided 1605 McNaughton Road on March 7 and 2470
Boucherie Road on March 16, uncovering substantial grow operations.

Regulatory services director Dave Slobodan said that once police
snapped photos of the set ups and removed plants and growing
equipment, his building inspectors went in and shut down the houses.

Do not occupy signs will remain on both properties, warning of health
and safety hazards, until the houses are cleaned up, he explained.

Slobodan said the registered homeowner at 1605 McNaughton was reached
once and staff advised Jessica Trautman that remedial work would need
to be done on her home.

However, Trautman told staff she would rather demolish the dwelling
than carry out the works required for re-occupancy, Slobodan said in
his report to council.

Since then the municipality has been unable to reach Trautman
again.

The notice that council has placed on the home's title warns any
future buyer of all the work must be done to make the house safe again
prior to occupancy, Slobodan said.

Meanwhile, Slobodan mentioned the municipality has also been unable to
reach Alfons Schoenherr, the registered owner of 2470 Boucherie Rd.

Letters went out on March 17, April 13, April 28 and May 18 advising
him the house had been used for a grow operation, that an inspection
had been done, clean up was required and that fees were owing for the
inspection.

Slobodan said the municipality must learn to keep patient in these
situations because the homeowners almost always come forward, eventually.

"In my years of experience I haven't experienced a property owner that
has not come and rectified their issues," said Slobodan. "They
procrastinate for a period of time and then it comes time to sell the
house because they can't fix it themselves or they don't have the
money to fix it."

Slobodan explained the homeowners would eventually grasp the concept
that they could lose their homes if they don't come forward.

"It is a large investment for them. A lot of these houses are very
expensive."

Slobodan said if and when either homeowner comes forward, he would
come back to council with an update.

At this point, both homeowners owe $2,500 each for the initial site
inspection on their properties, plus $250 each for the registration of
the notices on title.

For now, the bill will be added to the homeowner's property
taxes.

If taxes go unpaid for three years, the municipality will sell the
houses to get what it's owed.