Held over for another big year . . . The Sutherland Saga.

Watch the City of St. Thomas and David McGee, owner of Sutherland Lofts, pick up where they left off in 2016 . . . back in court.

That’s right, after issuing another work order late in October against the owner of the four-storey Sutherland Press building, McGee has tossed it back in the city’s corner with the declaration, see you in court.

On October 28, the city slapped a new unsafe building order on McGee with what city manager Wendell Graves called a very specific time line.

“They have until Dec. 15 to provide a detailed work plan and schedule to get the thing remedied and then work has to commence by the 9th of January,” Graves told this corner.
The thing in question is immediate replacement of spalling or damaged bricks and securing the roof, which suffered a partial collapse more than a year ago.

When the order was issued, Graves fully anticipated the work order might be challenged.

And that’s exactly what happened Thursday.

“It looks like we’ll be in front of a judge Dec. 12,” advised Graves. That appearance won’t be a full hearing, instead to set a court date some time in the new year to resume the more than eight-year battle.

To recap, on Sept. 27 at the Elgin County Courthouse, Justice Gorman ruled a notice issued by the city in March of this year warning of demolition of the structure dating back to 1913 for failure to comply with a previous work order was null and void due to improper delivery to McGee and lack of specificity on the part of the city.

In a separate stream, the city is appealing that decision.

That lack of specificity is the basis for McGee’s latest appeal.

“We’ve got the same problems with this one as we had before (lack of specificity and reasonable time frames) although there aren’t as many problems with this one (work order),” noted McGee’s lawyer Valerie M’Garry in a conversation Friday.

So saying the roof is in need of repair “is not helpful,” advised M’Garry, who added the city’s time frame for completion of remediation “is just not realistic.”

She reminded, “We’re back in the same place we were last March.”

The more things change, the more they remain the same.

Related posts:

City issues new Sutherland Press building work order

Departing CEO leaves St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital in good health

There’s no shortage of work orders in the Sutherland Saga

Sutherland Saga sees St. Thomas held for ransom

Sutherland Press building demolition decision deferred

After eight years, where might the money be?

Sutherland stalling hits ratepayers in the pocket

A little good news on the Alma College front

Round 1 in Demo Derby #2 goes to St. Thomas

Sutherland insurance policy is somewhat reassuring

Should city consider purchasing its downtown nemesis?

What’s next in the Sutherland saga?

The city is playing politics insists Sutherland Press building owner

Sutherland Press building demolition on hold again

Time for straight talk on the future of Alma property

Will council give green light to Sutherland Press building demolition?

STEGH job cuts revive that old two-step episode

Round 2 of demolition derby announced

Sutherland Press building roof collapse raises significant concerns

The Sutherland Press building is on a slow simmer

Derelict building a reminder of dirty politics

Sutherland Press building a backdrop for smear campaign

Not the end of the Sutherland Press saga

ANIMAL WELFARE

We love the feistiness as she proclaims, “If you can’t educate, agitate.”

Well, Lois Jackson chose the former this week for her animal welfare forum held Thursday at city hall that attracted three members of council, the city manager, representatives from St. Thomas police, Elgin OPP, St. Thomas Fire Department along with several veterinarians and animal rights activists.

As head of the city’s Animal Welfare Select Committee, Jackson organized the session to discuss “animal welfare in our community and make recommendations to council.”

A contentious issue in light of what Jackson refers to as “a big, bad mess” in St. Thomas and Elgin with a growing number of incidents of animal abuse including a case wending its way through the courts involving two young people, Payton Garner and Cody Yeo, facing three counts each of causing injury to an animal.

The charges stem from the discovery of the bodies of two dogs in a Confederation Drive apartment in August.

A graphic presentation by Brandon James from the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals proved timely as council debates upgrades to the animal shelter on Burwell Road. A facility which four other municipalities — Malahide, Aylmer, Central Elgin and Southwold — have entered into agreements with the city for the provision of animal services.

James made it very clear the OSPCA has jurisdiction over the animal shelter and there are minimum standards the city must meet.

What should be a decided game-changer as Jackson deals with what has been in the past a lackadaisical attitude toward animal welfare.

Related posts:

There’s no shortage of work orders in the Sutherland Saga

More questions than answers as hospital puts out hand

Lack of accountability frustrates concerned residents

LIGHTS, ACTION

Always amazed at the creative talent that calls St. Thomas home. And new on the scene this week the Drinking and Driving Mannequin Challenge performed by members of the St. Thomas Police Service. Who knew these are more than just men and women in blue.

A tip of the director’s hat to Const. Jeff DeLeeuw who filmed the entire sequence on his cell phone. In one take, no less, he tells us.

Might we add Doug Walker looks right at home presiding over matters.

See for yourself here http://bit.ly/2fx9VJ7.

Well done all of you!

Equally as memorable . . . the message.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“It’s a continual, ongoing and growing movement … They’re clearly still a non-willing host. There’s savings to be made in the system and I think the premier can show good faith, not just by speaking, but with her actions, to halt the project.”

Elgin-Middlesex-London PC MPP Jeff Yurek as he accepts an 1,822-name petition Friday morning from Dutton Dunwich anti-wind turbine activists.

City Scope appears Saturday in the St. Thomas Times-Journal. Questions and comments may be emailed to: City Scope

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