Getting rid of menus, tables, pots and pans, has the Gulch General Store back in business with a renewed operating licence from the City of Trail.
The owners took necessary action to satisfy the building department requirements pertaining to the building bylaw contravention, confirmed Michelle McIsaac, the city’s corporate officer.
“Removing the food service area and cooking equipment and thereby returning the building classification to retail/mercantile,” she said.
“The 2015 business licence … has just recently been issued to the owner for renewal purposes.”
However, it will not be business as usual for Mike’s Plumbing and Heating – the second business run out of the same location.
Manager Casey LeMoel informed the city in a letter dated Aug. 9, that he was cancelling the plumbing company’s business licence.
McIsaac noted that LeMoel’s cancellation does not guarantee cessation of operations. Trail council agreed that intermittent inspections and follow up would be prudent to ensure plumbing services are not being provided.
Darrell and Wendy LeMoel, owners of two Rossland Avenue businesses, appeared before council in an April 29 show cause hearing.
The matter simmered since January when the city withheld licence renewals for the Gulch General Store and Mike’s Plumbing and Heating due to ongoing infractions of Trail’s building bylaws.
According to the city’s business bylaw, carrying out work without required qualifications is considered gross misconduct and a public risk. Additionally, under the BC Plumbing Code, if an apprentice is on the job site, all work must be under complete supervision of a certified plumber or journeyman with respective certification.
The city maintained that while LeMoel provided copies of his and another employee’s apprenticeship registration, he failed to provide proof of the required supervision.
