Farmer ordered to clean cluttered yard

Years of conflict between neighbours came to a boil, in full public view, at Winnipeg City Hall.

People who live near Drago Kucas whose property insouth St. Vital is littered with derelict automobiles, machinery and other debris told a city committee Thursday they can't stand the foul odour and rodents.

One neighbour spoke of rats, a fear of disease, and the "awful stench" from cows, pigs and chickens running around.

"Come by there and have a look for yourself, and see the pigs on St. Mary's road;cows are running around. It's a joke," area resident Richard Novotny told the protection and community services committee.

"Come by there and have a look for yourself, and see the pigs on St. Mary's road;cows are running around. It's a joke.' Richard Novotny

"You go to your house and I'll sit there and I'll suffer.It's been that way since 1979.You guys haven't done dick about it."

Kucas had been ordered previously to clean up the property on St. Mary's Road but he appealed.

The protection and community services committee voted unanimously Thursday to deny his appeal and uphold the original order.

City inspectors presented the committee with a slide show of photographs that illustrate the chaos on the property.

In addition to the vehicles and tractors, Kucas' yard is strewn with pails, pieces of concrete and old appliances that have been abandoned for so long that trees have sprouted up through the middle of them.

Kucas blamed the smell on his neighbours' horses and septic fields. He also said his neighbours call him a "dirty farmer" which prompted one man to stand up and call Kucas a liar.

Anticipating a heated meeting, the committee requested auniformed police officer be posted in the room. However, things did not reach a pointat whichthe officer had to step in.

Kucas has until June to clean up the mess or else the city will do it and charge him on his property tax bill.