Snow removal, parking and animal-related calls kept Special Const. Josie Newton busy in December.
Newton, who is Estevan’s bylaw enforcement officer, had her first full month on the job in December, and according to her report filed for the Jan. 24 meeting of the Estevan board of police commissioners, she handled more than 90 calls and infractions.
Snow removal notices and fines were her biggest source of activity, as she had 26 such calls. She also had 22 parking violations and six more parking complaints.
There were 10 animal calls in December, to go with two animal impounds, as well as one animal violation and a neglected animal calls.
She also had one taxi bylaw inspection and checked 20 taxi drivers.
Newton also handled one call for an unkempt property.
A total of 1,017 calls and infractions were handled through bylaw enforcement last year. Parking violations accounted for the bulk of the activity at 214. Another 119 parking complaints were received.
Animal-related calls accounted for 252 incidents and infractions, led by 148 animal calls and 61 animal impounds.
As for property-related calls, there were 125 unkempt property inspections, 113 snow removal notices and fines, and 108 general clean-up calls.
In 2016, a total of 1,979 calls and infractions were handled through bylaw enforcement.
The city was without a dedicated bylaw enforcement officer for several months last year. Patrol officers handled bylaw enforcement when they had the chance.
Police Chief Paul Ladouceur believes the stiffer fines for parking violations also played a role in the lower number of infractions, as people are now aware that they will face stiffer fines for parking illegally.
