City of Cranbrook council May 10 unanimously agreed to a staff recommendation to have the owner of the former Kootenay Springs building undertake remedial actions on the derelict site.

Calling the conditions of the property, which includes a well, “a nuisance,” the city is asking property owner Knox Water Company Ltd. to obtain a report from an accredited structural engineer to confirm whether the building can be remediated and that steps be taken to address the hazardous conditions and unsightliness of the buildings and property are addressed.

Located at 120 – 6th Street North, the former Kootenay Springs buildings were constructed between 1946 and 1950 and city records indicate that the Business Licence issued to Kootenay Springs Ltd was closed in 2005.

“Staff have been working with the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations regarding the well head and well on the property located near the City’s Shallow Well #1. Ministry staff advise that their authority under the Groundwater Protection Act, allows them to make recommendations regarding the well and the well head; but the current condition of the structure surrounding the well head creates an unsafe environment and that they support the city’s recommendation of this Remedial Action Order,” cites a report to council by Wendy Davis  and Paul Heywood of Engineering and Development Services.

“Staff will be requiring that any remedial action taken includes the protection of the structure surrounding the wellhead. On October 17, 2020 Cranbrook Fire and Emergency Services responded to a structure fire which was believed to have been human caused. Staff spoke with the contact person, Gordon Dixon who, on behalf of the company paid an invoice for Fire Cost Recovery including the boarding up of the doors and windows to the building.

“Firefighter staff collected photos of the condition of both the interior and exterior of the buildings and roof, confirming the dilapidated and unsafe conditions.

“Staff are recommending that the owner obtain a report from an accredited structural engineer to confirm whether the building can be remediated and that steps taken to address the hazardous conditions and unsightliness of the buildings and property are addressed. Evidence of homeless people accessing the buildings exist, posing a tremendous liability to the city should the buildings or potions thereof collapse and cause serious injury or death,” the report noted.

“I’m glad to see that staff has taken a position on this,” said Coun. John Hudak before the council vote. “This building has been a problem and we’re sitting on a very dangerous situation here if something isn’t done.”

Read the full council report.

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