GoldChico
New Member
KELOWNA - The City of Kelowna is preparing to go where police often can't -inside the homes of marijuana growers.
City hall is taking a close look at two pilot projects employed in Surrey and Abbotsford that are showing tremendous success in getting rid of grow operations.
Stephen Fleming, deputy city clerk, says Kelowna will definitely adopt a new strategy for dealing with grow operations and he expects it soon.
We are watching both projects and trying to determine what the province is going to do, if they will make it province-wide," he says. We have looked at it internally to see what is the best model out there."
The pilot projects are supported by the province, leading Fleming and others to believe a one-size-fits-all approach might be brought in around the province.
But Fleming says if that appears to be a far-off decision for the province, Kelowna will move ahead on its own.
In Surrey, a team of five firefighters and inspectors have pushed out 118 grow operations in three months, compared to 75 grow operations shut down by the RCMP's seven-member team.
The fire department is using tips from police and the public, as well as records searches of B.C. Hydro and other agencies to guesstimate the likelihood of a grow operation in a home.
Unburdened by a need for search warrants and the police need for reasonable and probable grounds, the firefighters simply post notices on the doors demanding the right of access within 48 hours for safety and electrical inspections.
Nearly without fail, the grow ops were cleaned out before they returned.
Abbotsford is trying a different approach, with a little less success.
That city dismantled 12 grow ops in its first month.
Abbotsford uses the B.C. Building Code and the Fire Services Act to demand inspections and heaps more responsibilities onto the backs of property owners.
Any work required to bring the home back up to code is charged to the homeowner.
Coun. Ron Cannan raised the issue before council because of the safety hazards from tampering with power lines and the damage to rental homes. The problem is on-going, but we are at a point where people are so frustrated," Cannan says.
I know diligent property owners who had entire homes lost to grow ops."
He also sees it as a city responsibility to protect its own employees, namely firefighters.
He planned to raise the issue again in council chambers on Monday.
Firefighters face numerous risks fighting fires in grow op homes, from faulty electrical systems to booby traps.
Kelowna RCMP Supt. Bill McKinnon says he has had discussions with the Kelowna Fire Department chiefs about safety for their firefighters.
We see so many of these grow ops or potential meth labs and the dangers associated with both," he says.
I would feel horrible if we had information on a grow operation and a firefighter was ever injured because they didn't have that knowledge."
He says firefighters and inspectors don't have the same legal hoops to jump through and they may be able to dismantle the operations, but he sees a greater role for police to be able to charge people.
I think the best practices are that we partner together with those agencies to work together to solve the problem," McKinnon says.
I don't know if it will ever be completely gone but we can make a difference."
Source: Penticton Western (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Penticton Western
Contact: westedit@img.net
Website: Home - Penticton Western News
City hall is taking a close look at two pilot projects employed in Surrey and Abbotsford that are showing tremendous success in getting rid of grow operations.
Stephen Fleming, deputy city clerk, says Kelowna will definitely adopt a new strategy for dealing with grow operations and he expects it soon.
We are watching both projects and trying to determine what the province is going to do, if they will make it province-wide," he says. We have looked at it internally to see what is the best model out there."
The pilot projects are supported by the province, leading Fleming and others to believe a one-size-fits-all approach might be brought in around the province.
But Fleming says if that appears to be a far-off decision for the province, Kelowna will move ahead on its own.
In Surrey, a team of five firefighters and inspectors have pushed out 118 grow operations in three months, compared to 75 grow operations shut down by the RCMP's seven-member team.
The fire department is using tips from police and the public, as well as records searches of B.C. Hydro and other agencies to guesstimate the likelihood of a grow operation in a home.
Unburdened by a need for search warrants and the police need for reasonable and probable grounds, the firefighters simply post notices on the doors demanding the right of access within 48 hours for safety and electrical inspections.
Nearly without fail, the grow ops were cleaned out before they returned.
Abbotsford is trying a different approach, with a little less success.
That city dismantled 12 grow ops in its first month.
Abbotsford uses the B.C. Building Code and the Fire Services Act to demand inspections and heaps more responsibilities onto the backs of property owners.
Any work required to bring the home back up to code is charged to the homeowner.
Coun. Ron Cannan raised the issue before council because of the safety hazards from tampering with power lines and the damage to rental homes. The problem is on-going, but we are at a point where people are so frustrated," Cannan says.
I know diligent property owners who had entire homes lost to grow ops."
He also sees it as a city responsibility to protect its own employees, namely firefighters.
He planned to raise the issue again in council chambers on Monday.
Firefighters face numerous risks fighting fires in grow op homes, from faulty electrical systems to booby traps.
Kelowna RCMP Supt. Bill McKinnon says he has had discussions with the Kelowna Fire Department chiefs about safety for their firefighters.
We see so many of these grow ops or potential meth labs and the dangers associated with both," he says.
I would feel horrible if we had information on a grow operation and a firefighter was ever injured because they didn't have that knowledge."
He says firefighters and inspectors don't have the same legal hoops to jump through and they may be able to dismantle the operations, but he sees a greater role for police to be able to charge people.
I think the best practices are that we partner together with those agencies to work together to solve the problem," McKinnon says.
I don't know if it will ever be completely gone but we can make a difference."
Source: Penticton Western (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Penticton Western
Contact: westedit@img.net
Website: Home - Penticton Western News
