The City of Merritt is considering erecting a gate or set of gates across a dirt alleyway behind the South Central Interior Distance Education School (SCIDES) building in a move the mayor says is a safety and security issue.

However, at a public budget meeting on Feb. 13, Merritt Mayor Neil Menard explained that the budget request to erect two gates would also block the route resident and local doctor Paul Simon and his wife use to access their home.

He referred to this possible course of action as a response to the Simons’ erection of a barricade to one entrance of their property that blocked other residents’ access to their driveway.

“I thought well if he wants to make things very inconvenient for that family, then maybe we could make things just as inconvenient for him and put two gates up,” Menard told his fellow council members at a budget meeting back on Feb. 13.

The mayor told council that he had explored the option of tearing out the barricade the Simons had put across their property before coming to the meeting with the idea of erecting one or two gates.

“It isn’t specifically to inconvenience the doctor — that might have been taken out of context by me saying, ‘Well if he wants to inconvenience the city and the good folks that live there, then maybe we should do the same,’ but the decision wasn’t based on that, it was based on safety and security.”

“I put in a request that we put two gates up, one just this side of where he goes in to his place and one just past the school, so he’s got to get out of his truck twice, open it, lock it, open it, lock it and so does she,” Menard said.

In a phone interview with the Herald following the budget meeting, Menard denied that the impetus for the gates is a retaliatory measure, saying that would not be the right way to deal with that issue.

“It isn’t specifically to inconvenience the doctor — that might have been taken out of context by me saying, ‘Well if he wants to inconvenience the city and the good folks that live there, then maybe we should do the same,’ but the decision wasn’t based on that, it was based on safety and security.”

He added: “What I was basically saying is that if he can make it inconvenient for that particular family and the city having to deal with that, then maybe him being a little bit inconvenienced because of what we want to do as far as security is concerned, he should think about that.”

Asked if there would be another way for to doctor to leave his home more easily to attend an emergency call, Menard said that was something for them to discuss.

“Maybe he can change our mind,” he said.

The gate or gates Menard has in mind would be placed across the dirt road near the well, though the well site is currently already encircled by a chain link fence.

He said these gates would act as an extra measure of security for the well site.

BACKGROUND

In the summer of 2014, the Simons — who live on a large chunk of farmland behind McGoran Place — had a barricade erected separating the public road of McGoran Place from the 20 metres of McGoran Street they own. That portion of McGoran Street runs from the border of their farmland to the intersection with McGoran Place.

Adding a chain link barrier was within the Simon’s legal rights, but it cut off the driveway access for his neighbours, Darel Redman and Angela Papou.

That family has told the Herald in the past that the barrier has negatively affected the property value of their property, as well as made it difficult to access their home.

“I’m not in favour of putting security gates up when the issue is not security.”

The Simons currently access their own home via a road farther east in behind the SCIDES building. Part of that road crosses city land, which the Simons are allowed to legally access through an egress agreement that expires in 2019.

After that, the road running in front of Papau’s driveway will become the only legal access to the Simons’ home.

COUNCIL’S RESPONSE

Coun. Ginny Prowal questioned the legality of erecting the gates, to which chief administrative officer Shawn Boven said he didn’t think there would be any legal ramifications, but could get a legal opinion.

Coun. Kurt Christopherson said he liked the idea of putting in security gates, noting they’re not uncommon in town.

Coun. Linda Brown, however, was concerned that these gates were not being considered for their intended purpose.

“I’m not in favour of putting security gates up when the issue is not security. The issue is access for somebody we want to retaliate against, and I am absolutely against that,” Brown said. “I don’t think it’s a professional way to go about it. I don’t like what’s happening there any more than anyone else does, but I don’t believe that this is the way to go about it,” she said, noting a lot of city wells are not gated.

Coun. Dave Baker said erecting the gates could bring about a scenario where the bylaw office would have to monitor them and ensure that the Simons didn’t merely keep them open.

“Excuse the word, but I think this is becoming a bit of a pissing match between us and him,” Baker said, noting he wasn’t opposed to the gates as an added security measure.

He did say he thought putting a second gate up in front of the Simons’ house was excessive.

“Because now all we’re saying is that we’re keeping you out of there,” Baker said. “If we put one gate up, add some signage, give him a key, catch him [not locking the gate] a couple of times — if that’s the case, then we got it made. And if he does do it every time … well, so be it, he’s called our bluff — but I don’t think putting a gate up there is a bad idea for the security of our well,” Baker said.

“That’s really my main concern, is the security of our well,” Menard replied.

He told the Herald the city hasn’t made a decision yet on erecting a gate or gates.

“We’re hoping to resolve the issue, but right now that’s where it stands,” Menard said.