I have a secret.
One of the reasons I’d like to become a City Councillor is because I like to help people.
Being chosen by South Centre residents to represent them tomorrow would give me four years to do this, but I already have a couple of success stories I’d like to tell you about.
While campaigning in South Centre Ward, I was contacted by phone by Bob & Betty (not their real names), who had concerns about their neighbours.
Bob & Betty have lived in their home for a long period of time but, over the years, their neighbours have changed to now be two duplexes (one on each side).
Some of the tenants in those duplexes had less that desirable habits, including unkept yards, loud noise and the odd visit from the BPS.
I was able to provide Bob & Betty with information on the City of Brandon’s nuisance by-law (did you know noise isn’t based on time of day, but based on the distance it can be heard?) while also giving them information on a Provincial program called The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act.
The Act allows for one or more residents of a neighbourhood who fear for their safety or security to file a complaint with Manitoba’s director of law enforcement.
The complaint is kept confidential, and the identity of those who file it cannot be revealed at any time.
The director will launch an investigation and if evidence supports the claim, they have many options including applying for an Emergency Closure Order.
While the Act deals with severe issues (e.g. unlawful drug use, sexual abuse or exploitation of a child, possession of an unlawful firearm), it does give residents another tool to help deal with issues within their neighbourhood without having to deal directly with the neighbours or the landlords who rent their properties to people who engage in those type of activities.
I also wanted to tell you about Adam & Adele (again, not their real names), who contacted me about their ever increasing property taxes.
Adam & Adele’s taxes have increased by about $1,000 in the last ten years, more than doubling their previous amount (40% of which were municipal increases).
They live in a modest home, but development in their area has meant their provincial assessment on their property and home had increased.
In my face-to-face conversation with Adam & Arlene, I suggested a pair of opportunities that they weren’t aware of.
One, was the ability to appeal their assessment to the province, which wasn’t something they were aware of even after visiting the District Assessment Office in Brandon.
Second, they weren’t sure whether they were receiving the Manitoba Education Property Tax Credit Advance.
My assistance to Adam & Adele’s issue had little to do with being a council hopeful, but more to do with the knowledge base I have by being someone who has paid property tax in Brandon for the last 20+ years.
By the way, if you’re interested, you can get more information on how to appeal your provincial assessment through the Manitoba Municipal Board at https://www.gov.mb.ca/municipalboard/index.html
And find out if there’s a provincial tax credit program you can take advantage of at https://www.gov.mb.ca/finance/tao/eptc.html
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