Paradise issues order to plaza owner to deal with rodents

By Mark Squibb / June 9, 2023

The Town of Paradise this Tuesday issued an order to the owner of Cedar Plaza and the operator of NoFrills in Paradise to clean up garbage and debris around the building and to exterminate any rodents on the premises.

Mayor Dan Bobbett declared a potential conflict of interest before council took the vote as he lives on Iris Place, directly behind the plaza.

“The issue in question is a rat issue, and so I didn’t know how it would affect my property,” explained Bobbett, whom council found to not be in conflict.

The first order was issued to Cedar Plaza in general, the second to NoFrills specifically.

Both motions passed unanimously.

“For anyone who has had an opportunity to visit the site they would certainly see that all of the issues put forward in this order are certainly there,” said Laurie. “There is an incredible amount of garbage and rodent activity happening in that area.”

Laurie noted the orders stipulate that the issues have to be addressed in 14 days.

The plaza is home to about a half dozen businesses, including a pizza shop, bank, coffee shop, gas bar and bakery. Rodents are a common feature around supermarkets and convenience stores and restaurants as the animals are attracted by the vast quantities of food that are shipped in and out of the premises, though most people never actually see them, but can spot the traps placed on the rear of such buildings if they look closely.

“I would really like us to keep on top of this,” said Laurie. “I know staff have been dealing with this already, but we really need this issue resolved because it’s a huge one down there.”

Councillor Glen Carew echoed Laurie’s sentiments.

“That’s a notoriously bad place for rodent activity, and I think there’s a garbage compacter at NoFrills and another part of the building, and so it’s all one property, but the problem spans from one (end) to the other,” said Carew.

No Frills manager Russell Hamlyn, when reached on Wednesday, had not yet received word of the order, but said a by-law officer had been at the store recently.

He said the building’s landlord would be responsible for the general cleanup of the plaza, and he himself has taken steps to address issues.