Recent vandalism may leave some Okotoks seniors out of pocket.
Residents of Okotoks seniors complex Calvanna Village are having to foot the bill for repeated destructive mischief, said condo board director Cory Gutowski.
“We’re in for about $6,500 right now, and that’s a lot of money,” said Gutowski. “If it keeps happening, then that’s a problem.
“The biggest thing here is because it’s a 55-plus community, because the average age is 74 years old, and we have condo fees to pay. Every time this happens, the price goes up.”
While the most recent event was most destructive, with several sections of fencing and the stone retaining wall being pulled down from the footings, petty vandalism has been a recurring event along the property line.
“The frequency for that has got to be once a month,” Gutowski said. “Once a month somebody comes through, rips a piece of fence out, tears some blocks out, just because.”
The time of the incidents tends to be in the early morning hours, he added, based on residents hearing noises and coming out to find the damage.
The shock of finding that destruction at their doorstep runs deeper than the pocketbook.
“People, particularly on the outside ground floor, they’re feeling quite unsafe. If somebody’s going to do something like this, what are they going to do next?
Gutowski said residents may be paying more to implement extra security measures.
“We’re looking at security cameras, that’s a cost we shouldn’t have to incur, but if it helps the police, which are working with us, then great.”
While the board has cash reserves to draw on, repeated incidental costs deplete that quickly.
“If you deplete your reserve fund, then somehow you have to do a cash call for something else that comes up later,” Gutowski said. “It’s just disappointing.”
If property damage continues, he added, it could price seniors out of their living arrangements.
“Eventually, if your condo fees continue to rise, you won’t be able to live here, then what do you do?” he said.
“Essentially you’re forcing people out of their home. It’s a catch 22.”
Anyone with information on the vandalism is asked to contact the Okotoks RCMP detachment at 403-995-6400.
