YORKTON - A change in operations at TruckPro on Broadway Street East had three area residents sending letters and appearing before Yorkton Council over concerns about diesel fumes and truck noise.
“Three semis have been parking and idling on the TruckPro lot since a power meter was installed on the north end of the TruckPro lot some time in mid November of this year,” explained a letter from Bruce and Kim Waddell.
“We first contacted the City by email on December 6, 2024 and have since been in almost daily contact with the City as these semis are only 135 feet from our back door in our residential area.
“We are being woken up every morning they are idling there, they are loud whenever they are running anytime during the day and we get noxious diesel exhaust fumes in our house and our yard to the point where it is affecting our health and we are extremely concerned about this.”
The letters from the three neighbouring residents alleged the business is contravening two bylaws, suggesting the business has no permit for a change of use at the location – installation of the power metres – under the Zoning Bylaw, and under sections of the city’s Noise Bylaw.
We believe the City of Yorkton should be enforcing its own bylaws and putting a stop to this, said Kim Waddell in a verbal presentation to Council.
Dean Fyck owner of TruckPro also appeared before Council. He said cold weather necessitates running diesel trucks for extended periods to be functional.
At -30 a unit cannot be shut down for very long and be startable, he stated in a letter verbally shared with Council.
“Sometimes we cannot get trucks inside as quick as we like, and they have too idle outside in cold temps till we get room inside. Sometimes customers come in at night and drivers have to sleep with units running to keep warm while sleeping. Auxiliary heaters do not provide enough heat over -20,” detailed the letter.
Fyck was hoping for a noise bylaw exemption.
Nicole Baptist, Bylaw & Safety Supervisor, with the city made a report to council responding to the concerns surrounding the changes which appear to have occurred with the installation of the power metre.
“The recent change created noise concerns as semis were using the power station to plug in their tractor units and the units remained idling for extended periods. Further contributing to the concerns was the location of the power station as it was closer in proximity to the residential houses than the business shop is,” she said.
Baptist said, administration is working with the property owner as stated in the Noise Bylaw Exemption request. The Planning Dept. is also investigating the land use concerns and has initiated compliance efforts.
Administration proposed approval of a noise exemption, but with parametres including it being short term as the city delved into the issues outlined in more detail. The recommendation – approved by Council will expire March 4.
Other parametres of the temporary exemption granted are:
* A maximum of one semi tractor be parked at the power station located at the North side of the property at any given time.
* That diesel motors idling at the power station located at the North side of the property run for a maximum of 15 minutes.
* That diesel motors not be permitted to idle at the power station located at the North side of the property between the hours of 6:00 PM and 7:30 AM.
* That diesel motors idling against the building at 537 Broadway St. East be permitted to idle for more than 15 minutes.
