Town councillors want even stiffer financial penalties than proposed to mitigate an increase in construction site waste.
On Oct. 7, Community Safety director Jay Judin presented a draft that calls for fines to increase to $1,000 from $600 for the first-time offense of failing to contain waste. He says they have the ability to double the fine for repeat offenders in the same calendar year.
Judon told council most of the files investigated by Cochrane Municipal Enforcement are by one developer.
"Of the 32 citations issued in 2023, 27 were attributable to just one developer, and in 2024, this pattern has persisted with 35 of the 48 citations being issued to the same repeat offender."
Higher fines, a graduated scale for repeat offenders, and even the suspension of business licences for repeat offenders were recommended.
Mayor Jeff Genung says there's no excuse for not being able to manage construction site waste.
"Council takes this very seriously," said Genung. "The look and feel of our community, I mean, this is an easy thing--keep your site clean--and then if it's costing us money, I would like for us to do whatever we can to ratchet that up to be as tight and toothful as possible. I like the suggestion that we can pull a business licence."
Judin says he's been exploring the possibility of including a mandatory court appearance (Part 2 offense) for repeat offenders. If convicted, the offender would face a minimum of a $2,500 fine and/or a year in jail.
It was the first look at the proposed revision to the governing bylaw at a council committee-of-the-whole meeting. These meetings are used to garner feedback from council before items are formally presented.