Winnipeg homeowner frustrated after snowplow flattens fence

A Winnipeg man would like to know why it took four months and dozens of emails and phone calls toa contractor hired by the city before someone agreed to pay for his flattened fence.

Jim Stephenson came home from work on Feb.9 to see a snowplow clearing the streets in his River Heights neighbourhood.

He let his dog outside, walked across the street to 7-Eleven, and on his way homea neighbour yelled, "What happened to your fence?"

"I looked up and my dog was in the middle of Corydon Avenue and my fence was completely collapsed!" he said.

RAW: Jim Stephenson frustrated with the 'run-around' he's received over his damaged fence

8 years ago

Duration 1:24

A Winnipeg man would like to know why it took four months and dozens of emails and phone calls to a contractor hired by the city before someone agreed to pay for his flattened fence.

He retrieved his dog, who had dashed when the fence came down. Then,Stephenson said heyanked the chain link fence up and called 311 to file a claim with the city. He saidat the time, the loader was still clearing snow at the bus stop a few meters away.

The damage to the fence was estimated at $801, Stephenson said.

"Looks like garbage! I live in a nice part of the city and I'm not going to take the money out of my pocket to fix my fence,"he said.

Thirty days after his claim, Stephenson saidhe got a letter from the City of Winnipeg informing him that the construction company responsible for the work would be in touch.

Weeks without word

Weeks went by without a word from them, so Stephenson called Hugh Munro Construction Ltd. himself.

I'm not the only person this has happened to. I think most people put it to bed because they can't be bothered dealing with the bureaucracy.-JimStephenson

"After fiveor sixphone calls of getting absolutely nowhere, somebody came out and looked at the fence and said it was a sidewalk cleaner that did it," Stephensonsaid, adding he disagreed with that assessment of what happened.

Hedemanded to speak with a supervisor, who then came to his home to survey the damage.

"At which time he said, 'Well, we'll pay for the fence.' And then a day later I got a letter from them saying 'We're not paying for the fence!'"

On Friday,CBC Newscontacted Hugh Munro Construction Ltd.and a spokesperson said the company would compensate Stephenson for his damaged fence. The spokesperson said that it was just that morning that Stephenson sent a photo that"clearly indicated"tracks leading up to his flattened fence were from a plow.

A spokesperson with the cityadded that the city has agreements with the contractors that require them to take responsibility for their work and respond to claims for any damage or injury they may have caused to the public.

If there's a disagreement, according to the spokesperson, the citizen can provide additional information or documentation that would cause the city to re-open the file. Complainants can also pursue the matter insmall claims court.

'No confidence' in city

Stephenson isn't impressed by what he calls thecity's lack of accountabilityand believes something should be done so others aren't left in similar situations.

"I'm not the only person this has happened to. I think most people put it to bed because they can't be bothered dealing with the bureaucracy, the red tapeand the absolutely nonchalant approach to the whole thing by all parties other than myself," Stephensonsaid, adding he has lost allconfidence in the city and its contractors.

Stephenson said he is relieved, at the very least, that his fence will be fixed, but added he wouldlike to see the city's processes improved so citizens aren't pitted against the contractors.