WINNIPEG – Richard Hykawy, an Island Lakes home owner who is fighting the City on boulevard grass maintenance is back in court Thursday.
Residents have been in charge of mowing their own boulevards since 1992, when a City bylaw was put in place. It was since modified in 2002 stating, “every owner or occupant of land in the City shall maintain boulevards that abut or flank the land that he or she owns or occupies.”
The law then says it is the owners responsibility to keep the grass on the boulevard below 25 centimeters. The City says it will first warn people to cut the grass. If they don’t, they are charged an administrative fee of $107 in addition to $77 per hour for the work required by Public Works to bring the boulevard up to standards outlined in the bylaw.
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When Hykawy refused to mow his boulevard City workers stepped in, adding $300 to his property tax bill, which he decided to contest.
Hykawy says forcing residents to mow the boulevard that is not their property is forced labour.
Earlier this year, Hykway covered his own front yard with rocks, claiming he can’t grow grass and no longer owns a lawn mower. At the same time the lawn on the boulevard shriveled up and died.
The City has since re-sodded the boulevard.
In June, a judge granted Hykway more time to develop his case which he will present today.
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