(File photo/northeastNOW)

By Cam Lee

Dilapidated buildings

Nipawin SUMA resolution to deal with run-down buildings easily passed

Apr 21, 2025 | 4:00 PM

The Town of Nipawin has had resounding success from their resolution at the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) convention in Saskatoon.

The resolution was titled ‘Assistance Addressing Dilapidated Buildings’ and addressed a topic that has also been an issue for many rural municipalities.

The resolution stated the dilapidated buildings “threaten public safety by increasing fire risk, potential structure collapse, increased criminal activity, and health hazards from vermin or mold growth, while lowering property values, and diminishing the overall aesthetics and appeal of Saskatchewan communities.”

The Town resolved that SUMA advocate the provincial government to provide financial assistance to municipalities for assessing, maintaining, demolishing, or repurposing the run-down buildings. The resolution also asked SUMA to request provincial legislation or provide other processes to enforce property standards and speed up processes for dealing with the dilapidated properties. It also requested technical support for municipalities, which among other things may include offering expert consultation, and coordinating with municipal officials to create a long-term strategy to address such properties.

Mayor Marlon Zacharias told northeastNOW council and administration took about a month last fall to polish and prepare the resolution to send into SUMA for approval for their annual spring convention.

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Zacharias said when a town is forced to take title on a run-down property through back taxes it can become very costly.

“Lots of times we have to knock them down,” Zacharias explained. “In a house that doesn’t have asbestos in it, it can cost up to about $25,000.” If a house has asbestos, the cost is close to double that amount. He called the costs a big burden on taxpayers.

The resolution was approved with a tremendous amount of support, according to Zacharias.

“It passed with just about 98 per cent approval,” he said.

Zacharias added the announcement will go together with the provincial government’s announcement in March that they are developing a program that would allow participating rural municipalities to work with volunteer fire departments for crews to dispose of dilapidated municipal-owned buildings through fire training exercises.

“The towns and cities will also be able to participate in that,” explained the mayor.

Even if a troubled property is burned in one of these exercises, Zacharias said there is still a lot of cleanup to be done. He hopes the provincial government will help assist in cleaning up after the burn is finished.

The provincial government hopes to have their pilot project launched in late summer or early fall. Zacharias said it will take some time for municipalities to develop their own policies and procedures. He also asked Environment Minister Travis Kelsig about burning a home with asbestos in it, and was told asbestos will not affect the ability to do a practice burn.

Zacharias said ideally the town would like to have the ability to address dilapidated buildings settled by the fall, but much of that depends on how quickly the province launches their pilot program. He couldn’t give a specific answer to the number of houses Nipawin has had to raze over the years, but he said it’s usually at least one or two a year.

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Cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com