ROSSLAND TARGETS GROW-OPS TOO

Rossland is looking into adopting a bylaw to discourage illegal
marijuana-growing operations and is encouraging citizens to report all
criminal activity to the police after receiving numerous complaints
about "party" houses.

The grow-op bylaw will be likely patterned after similar measures
being developed in Fruitvale and Warfield, which focus on deterring
operations through house inspections, councillor Gordon Smith told
council Monday.

Many problem houses in Rossland are owned by absentees landlords. One
simple approach would be to get owners of these houses to sign over
their inspection rights to the city, he added.

Contrary to popular opinion, the city already has a bylaw regulating
excessive noise at all times, with certain exceptions, Smith said.
But city has no easy way of enforcing the penalties and the RCMP has
suggested council look at rewriting it.

The police have also cautioned against using it in instances of
serious criminal activity Smith added, because of problems with double
jeopardy.

"The police prefer to deal with criminal charges, and bylaw charges
can preclude criminal charges."

The bylaw officer has been instructed to step up patrols, and efforts
to organize a Citizens on Patrol group are also underway.

"We have 12 volunteers so far and we are looking for (a total) of 16,
with the idea being that they would patrol one weekend a month," said
councillor Lora Fry.

All citizens have to be more alert to what is going on in their
community and report problems to the police because "things are
changing in Rossland as we grow and times change," she added.

But several citizens expressed concerns about the RCMP presence in
Rossland since the RCMP detachment was consolidated with Trail's.

"I don't understand how a noise bylaw or drug-free zone (around
Rossland Secondary) or anything else will do any good with the lack of
police pressure," said Fifth Avenue resident Dylan Strelioff, who said
there is a house in his neighbourhood with obvious drug dealing going.

But Leroi Avenue resident Tracy Mercer said residents must start to
combat problems by reporting them.

"A lot of these incidents are not being reported. There is a lot of
ugly stuff going on and it is only going to get worse."

Smith agreed, pointing out that the RCMP assign resources in part
based on complaint volumes.

He acknowledged there have been problems with after-hour dispatchers
from Kelowna who often answer the detachment's non-emergency phone
after hours, but suggested that callers persist in until their
complaint is logged, or dial 911.

Several citizens warned that there is a growing sense of frustration
and some vigilantism is likely if the situation does not improve.