Sylvan Lake’s crackdown on noise, parking, alcohol and animal issues appears to be paying off.
There were 39 liquor citations written by municipal enforcement officers last year compared with 16 the previous year. Just under $4,500 in fines were handed out compared with $920 the previous year.
Council made municipal enforcement a key issue since the last election.
“We have directed our municipal enforcement to step up enforcing community standards, especially along the waterfront,” said town spokeswoman Joanne Gaudet.
“Council got this direction based on communication with residents. The residents wanted to see more action.”
Town council in October 2016 to hire a full-time bylaw enforcement officer to handle animal complaints, a move meant to save money and provide quicker service. Previously, animal control was contracted out.
The number of animal citations handed out last year nearly doubled to 113 from 62 the previous year.
The town also introduced visitor pay parking in the lakeshore area last year to address parking issues and raise money for the upkeep and enhancement of local parks.
Not surprisingly, parking citations increased with 1,461 handed out, generating $93,222 in fines. In 2016, 446 citations resulted in $17,958 in fines.
Gaudet said the town did a lot of publicity to alert residents that community standards issues were going to be enforced more diligently. The lengthy lead-in was to address any perceptions that the town was only handing out more tickets as a money maker.
pcowley@reddeeradvocate.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter