WHEREAS the number of old, abandoned, derelict houses and buildings are ever increasing and becoming the responsibility of the municipality to dispose of in order to restore the safety of the area;
WHEREAS these properties with the derelict buildings create a dangerous situation for the municipality as well as becoming unsightly, a nuisance and a breeding ground for pests. Most of these structures are unsafe for entry by the time a municipality gains title to the property through Tax Enforcement Proceedings;
WHEREAS with Environmental regulations and policies on the demolition and clean-up of such properties and the distance to local landfills for the disposal of the materials; the costs associated become extremely expensive;
WHEREAS many of these buildings contain asbestos which increases the expense of demolition and disposal even greater for the Municipalities to bear through ratepayers’ tax dollars; and
WHEREAS neighboring local urban municipalities also support this initiative and will be taking the same resolution to the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association Annual Conventions:
1. Town of Churchbridge
2. Town of Saltcoats
3. Village of Grayson
4. Village of Stockholm
5. Village of MacNutt
6. Town of Langenburg
BE IT RESOLVED that SARM Board of Directors lobby the provincial and federal government for funding and programs to assist the multiple municipalities throughout the province to clean up these derelict properties returning the safety and appealing condition to each municipality.