POT OPERATIONS WILL START COSTING LANDLORDS

This week three Abbotsford landlords will get a bill in the mail from the
Abbotsford police to cover the costs of cleaning up after marijuana growers.

Under the provisions of the controlled substance property bylaw introduced
in January, police can charge landlords for extraordinary costs incurred in
the removal of a marijuana growing operation.

Those costs could include the dismantling, removal, clean up, storage and
disposal of equipment and substances and overtime for the police officers.

After the first incidence, property owners are inform-ed that an
"enforcement action" took place on their property, said media liaison
officer Const. Shinder Kirk.

If there is a second incident, the officer in charge of the investigation
will fill out a billing form, hand it over to police service finance
manager Shelley Bursill, who then sends out an invoice to the landlord.
Since the police services are actually covered by the city, the police
department and the city generate an invoice together, she said.

"If it's not paid, it will be applied to the property owner's tax account,"
she said.

Costs could vary greatly depending on the amount of cleanup - one bill
prepared this week was just $200, while another was about $1,300, she said.

That might not be the only cost. If there is damage or tampering to power
sources, B.C. Hydro may send the property owner its own bill, Bursill
explained. If the water, electricity or gas has to be disconnected for
safety reasons, the owner will have to pay the city a further $400 for a
special inspection to be reconnected.

The bylaw should force landlords to pay closer attention to what goes on in
their buildings, said Deputy Chief Const. Paul Tinsley.

Such property owners can no longer practise "willful blindness" or plead
innocence, he said.

"A citizen could get burned once, but not twice. It's a good thing because
it holds landlords accountable for people who are operating grow operations
on their premises. If landlords would have inspections of their properties
every couple of months we'd completely eliminate grow-ops," Tinsley said.

Even though they may not live in the neighbourhood, property owners still
have a responsibility to the community, he added.

"The financial question is not the only question. People also have to have
in mind the safety and security of the community, to consider the
neighbours and families who live in the area," Tinsley said.

The first bill went out Tuesday to the owner of a house on Babich Street,
with two more going out this week, Kirk said.

Police first discovered 65 pounds of marijuana plants and related
paraphernalia at the Babich house last January, said Kirk.

Then on June 26, when police again found 37 pot plants averaging three feet
high, along with some white powder and growing equipment.

The emergency response team was also called in for a high-risk warrant
entry, as police believed the occupants may have had weapons. A crisis
negotiator was also called in, Kirk said.

Kirk said landlords will not be identified as they are not directly
involved in the crime.

"It's not a Criminal Code matter, it's a billing event," he said.

Bursill said two other invoices were being prepared to go out this week.