INNISFAIL – The taggers are back at it.
Graffiti is an old problem in all municipalities that has a way of ebbing and flowing in and out of most people’s lives.
Its nastiness has returned to Innisfail and town staff and council members are looking for new answers to solve the recurring problem.
The graffiti issue was raised by Coun. Jason Heistad. He wanted to know if administration could work with the Innisfail Policing & Safe Community Committee and look deep into local bylaws to help owners with the clean-up from recent rashes of tagging.
“There have been a number of places that have been identified,” said Heistad, who wanted to know whether help could come to stricken business owners through the town’s Façade Program.
“The graffiti kind of comes in waves in the community. I know the town in the past has done a good job trying to clean it up through the bylaw.”
Todd Becker, the town’s chief administrative officer, told council graffiti is referenced in the town’s updated Community Standards Bylaw. He added there is also a town policy associated with graffiti removal kit distribution for businesses and residents, which is free of charge and can be picked up at the Innisfail Fire Hall.
As for any help from the Façade Program, Coun. Gavin Bates said it was his belief it was “specific” to renovations and did not want the two issues mixed “at this point.”
Coun. Janice Wing weighed in to propose a social marketing strategy that engages businesses and residents about the graffiti issue.
“In an exploratory way but also it’s an opportunity to engage them around these kinds of behaviors,” said Wing, adding the engagement could also include other anti-social behaviors, such as littering.
Mayor Jean Barclay added the town might want to consider creating a graffiti wall for willing citizens to engage.
“That’s what lots of other communities do. I don’t know if we will ever be rid of this,” said Barclay, who later told the Albertan the town may want to consider a community graffiti clean-up initiative, similar to the Green & Clean campaign.
“Get the community involved. Get the schools involved. The more ownership we take in our community the more pride we will have.”
Gary Leith, the town’s manager of protective services, conceded his team of community peace officers are aware of “certain hot spots” around town that have been targeted with graffiti.
“We are looking at changing the layouts, particularly in one of our ball diamonds,” said Leith, adding if graffiti is discovered on any town-owned properties it’s taken off as quickly as possible.
He said targeted businesses can call his office for graffiti removal kits.
“We do have a stock of them. We are able to provide them free of charge to residents and businesses to assist them,” he said, adding the kits contain environmentally friendly cleaning products that will remove graffiti without ruining most surfaces of targeted walls.
“It’s an ebb and flow, an occasional thing where we have a graffiti attack,” added Leith of the local graffiti situation. “Certainly, on the town property we are able to clean up very quickly.”
