Charleswood man to fight city fines over property cleanup

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This article was published 24/06/2019 (2616 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Leon Stopchycki wants his stuff back — and he refuses to pay for it.

About three years ago, a city crew removed piles of equipment and scrap material from his Charleswood yard.

“They said, ‘We’re here to clean up, and you stay in the house,’” the 84-year-old said, adding the city fined him $2,000.

Stopchycki, who has lived on Pepperloaf Crescent since 1975, said the work crew showed up after he’d received letters and a visit from city employees who warned him he was breaking city bylaws.

He said most of the equipment removed from the yard — including sheets of Styrofoam, tracks for a garage door, solar panels, and scaffolding and shelves — was related to work he was doing around his house. He hadn’t had time to move it.

“I can only do so much. My legs swell up,” Stopchycki said. “A few weeks later, the crew is banging on the door.”

Now, Stopchycki said he’s losing sleep over the fact the fine has been added to his property tax — and increases by 2.5 per cent each month he doesn’t pay, pushing the total to roughly $3,800.

“I’m all shook up,” he said. “I pay my taxes, but I didn’t pay for the removal of my property.”

The city said it doesn’t disclose information on specific properties for privacy reasons. A spokesperson said any property cleanup costs stemming from bylaw infractions depend on how many items are removed. The cost is added to the tax bill when it’s deemed “uncollectible.”

The city’s neighbourhood livability bylaw says garbage — including appliances, large car parts, crates, renovation waste and machinery — must not be allowed to accumulate on private property.

However, Stopchycki’s neighbours say he’s known to keep much more than that in his yard.

“He’s a junk collector. He’s had so much garbage in there,” Ed Malasiuk said. “I don’t know who called the city on him, but somebody had to.”

Bryan Kurtz, whose backyard is adjacent to Stopchycki’s, said he’s spent about $3,000 to erect fences between his yard and his neighbour’s in the past few decades.

First, there was a four-foot chain-link fence. Then, an eight-foot chain-link fence. Finally, an eight-foot cedar fence.

“It’s not fun when you have a neighbour like that,” Kurtz said. “I didn’t want to fight with him. I just wanted to ignore him.”

Stopchycki, who lives alone, said he doesn’t think the city’s actions were justified and he’s seeking legal counsel.

“There was nothing wrong with it,” he said. “I refuse to pay.”

caitlyn.gowriluk@freepress.mb.ca