Cost of doing business in Kelowna grows amid social disorder - BERITAJA

While relieved a dumpster fire down his Kelowna, B.C., furnishings shop didn’t spread, it’s conscionable the latest blaze Gaeten Benoit says he’s had to contend with.

“I extinguished 2 fires past year,” said Benoit, who owns Treehouse Interiors connected Windsor Road disconnected of Spall Road.

Sometime betwixt Monday nighttime and Tuesday morning, a occurrence collapsed retired down the furnishings store, the flames damaging a cardboard recycling dumpster adjacent to the building.

“It was afloat of cardboard, which could origin the flames to spell higher and touch the tile line,” Benoit said.

Next doorway astatine Savoy Equipment, the flames besides raised superior concerns.

“Because we work section and plot equipment, we person substance connected the premises,” said David Turner, proprietor of Savoy Equipment. “If occurrence ever reached the incorrect spot … past surely it could be, I don’t want to usage the connection catastrophic, but it could beryllium significant.”

Two years ago, an car repair shop successful the aforesaid area was destroyed aft a occurrence erupted extracurricular of it.

“We trust connected the store. Something for illustration that will drawback connected fire, it will person a immense impact,” Benoit said.

Benoit said he has to do regular checks of the spot for immoderate benignant of vandalism on pinch regular cleaning outside.

“We person lots… for illustration tons of, sometimes a bum campy successful the back, group cutting the obstruction aliases starting fires,” he said.

Benoit said he’s already spent thousands of dollars connected protective measures and the costs are adding up, amid an already reliable economical climate.

While hiring a backstage information institution has crossed his mind, he says, the rule of it doesn’t beryllium well.

“Because successful the end, businesses salary spot taxation and spot taxes supply those services,” Benoit said. “For maine it’s for illustration removing the work from the city, and I would alternatively my, you know, my tax, spot tax, to spell somewhat higher and get amended services than going privately.”

While he said the city’s caller assistance program, which offers $3,000 to offset information costs, is simply a bully thing,  it doesn’t ever spell acold enough.

“When you person 22,000 quadrate feet, you request rather a larger amount,” Benoit said.

While nary 1 from the metropolis was disposable to respond to the concerns, successful an email to BERITAJA, a spokesperson stated its organization information section has already been moving successful the area .

Benoit acknowledged the metropolis is trying to do what it could successful its constricted capacity and said it’s changes to the judicial strategy that are needed.

“We are school our kids action person consequences, but past you spot you spot group retired location committing crimes each the clip and location is nary existent consequences,” Benoit said. “I deliberation the main problem present is the justness system.”

Turner added that much support services are besides needed to get a grip connected the societal upset affecting businesses.

“I deliberation it starts pinch the intelligence wellness issues and addiction issues and we person obscurity to nonstop these people,” Turner said.