The City of Thompson has again issued warrants of seizure and sale of goods from business tax scofflaws.
Think of warrants and two types probably spring to mind: search warrants and arrest warrants, signed by judicial officials such as justices of the peace or judges.
A warrant signed by city manager Randy Patrick, acting on behalf of the City of Thompson, probably doesn't come to mind. But that's exactly what city council has authorized Patrick to do to help collect business tax arrears for last year from delinquent local businesses.
The warrants are authorized under the provincial Municipal Act and allow Patrick to "issue a warrant for the seizure and sale of goods found on the lands or in the premises respect of which taxes were imposed and are in arrears."
The delinquent businesses range from Thompson Shell, which owed $3,013.31, and Tim Hortons, which owed $2,096.83 in business tax arrears as of tax clerk Leona Mayer's Jan. 21 report, to Rogers Video owing $18.34.
Others businesses in arrears with their business taxes as of Jan. 21 included:
Christian Gagnon - $1,638.58;
Thompson Bowling Lanes - $1,254.41;
Sears Appliance Store - $828.54;
Ron Noseworthy - $518.42;
Moore Specs - $402.70;
Urban Trends - $384.18;
A & B Builders - $273.93;
Dee's Pet Place - $231.44;
Travel Only Thompson - $134.25;
Y & Q Salvage - $60.17;
Grey Goose Bus Lines - $30.69;
Jomac Transport - $28.79;
Prendiville Industries - $21.55.
Carol Taylor, the city's chief financial officer, says the warrants are for the most part simply an additional compliance mechanism to strongly encourage delinquent businesses to settle up. That often happens at the point where Brian Taylor, the city's licence inspector and most senior municipal bylaw enforcement officer on staff, arrives on the premises, often accompanied by a city purchasing agent, to execute the warrant issued by Patrick, she says.
Carol Taylor says the Municipal Act warrants are executed in daytime during regular business hours.
Brian Taylor and the purchasing agent, when necessary, try and select "goods" to seize which would be roughly equivalent at public auction to what the business owes the city in unpaid business taxes, she says.
