Two property owners in the Village of Morrin claim that the municipality, when asked, could produce no permitting documents for a building they’d like to open a new business in.
Curt Blayney and Linda Loades, co-owners of the former post office property on Main Street Morrin, lots 201 and 203, called the ECA Review July 18.
Blayney and Loades purchased the former post office in Morrin with the intention of starting a business there. Blayney stated recently he contacted planners at Palliser Regional Planning Services to ensure proper permits were in place for his business, and he was instructed to contact the Village of Morrin for all of the development permits on file.
Blayney noted that when he contacted the Village of Morrin Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Annette Plachner informed him that the municipality had no documents on file for the old post office.
Blayney stated he was caught off guard by that because the building’s been there since the 1960s.
The ECA Review left a voicemail for the Village of Morrin July 18 to confirm Blayney’s claims. Village CAO Plachner responded through email that the village doesn’t have the planning documents Blayney was looking for.
“No, there are no development permits available for his commercial property, as the last one was issued 15 years ago,” stated Plachner’s July 19 email.
Plachner added that Blayney and Loades require a development permit before they can open a commercial operation in the old post office.
“All commercial property that as been vacant for a period of six months will require a development permit as per safety codes regulations,” stated Plachner.
Blayney stated since he and Loades need a development permit to get their new business going, they suspect they may have to hire a surveyor to do a real property report on the old post office since they weren’t able to get any documents from the village.
The development permit is required, explained Blayney, because the old post office building has been vacant for some time; if it was continually occupied, the process wouldn’t have been necessary.
He noted inspectors have also gone through the building and the new owners have been making upgrades to meet codes.
When asked if past owners such as Canada Post might have copies of old permits Blayney stated that’s not relevant. He stated it is the municipality’s responsibility to provide them.
He went further and noted he was quite surprised that no permit documents exist, so he is planning to request planning documents from many other Morrin businesses to see what is on file for them.
When asked what effect this issue is having on his new business Blayney responded it will be challenging for anybody to do anything in Morrin if they ask questions.
When asked what resolution he’d like to see of this issue Blayney responded he’d like to see the Village of Morrin meet their legislative responsibilities, but added he doesn’t feel a resolution is possible with the current situation.
Blayney suggested a third party mediator might be able to find a solution.
Blayney and Loades also had an issue recently with the Village of Morrin when it was revealed by a surveyor that the municipal office that’s located immediately west of the old post office had encroached on Blayney and Loades’ property.
After the property lines were identified by a surveyor the village removed a flag pole and planters that were encroaching.
Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
ECA Review
