Update: ‘Frosty’ reception to bylaw enforcement

Update Dec 14

The inflatable snowman that has been the talk of Vernon lately should be back in place next week.

Vernon Teach and Learn on 30th Avenue was forced to remove ‘Frosty’ this week on orders from the city’s bylaw department.

However, after an outpouring of support on social media, and after a Friday meeting at City Hall, the business says a new $150 permit fee has been waived for this year allowing the snowman to return to his regular post.

(Story by Russ Byth)
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Original story

The City of Vernon is taking action after getting a ‘frosty’ reception on social media to a recent crackdown on a downtown business.

Vernon Teach and Learn has put an inflatable Frosty the Snowman outside its shop on 30th Avenue for the last eight years, but this week owner Lynella Henke decided to remove it after a couple of bylaw officers said the item was too close to the parking meter on the street.

Henke told Vernon Matters she has a meeting at city hall this afternoon to discuss the situation.

“Hopefully there will be a resolution. I’m very frustrated with how it’s gone so far. Everywhere I go people say ‘We want Frosty. We want Frosty.'”

Henke may have to purchase a $150 permit to allow the snowman which she hopes to have back out by Monday at the latest.

The store has received support from people on social media:

“There are literally a hundred other areas bylaw should be focusing on,” one person commented.

“City council and bylaw dudes… bah humbug. Come on, it’s for a couple of weeks. And they’ve done it for the last eight years, the kids love it and the store,” added another.

There was also online support for the city’s action: “Frosty is on the sidewalk with a cord running to it. The cord could be considered a hazard even with the carpet covering it,” said one person.

Vernon Matters reached out to the city for comment. The city says its bylaw officers are working with the store owner to find a solution.

On Thursday “it was brought to bylaw enforcement’s attention that there were some safety concerns in regards to the placement and set up of a large inflatable snowman on a downtown sidewalk,” Christy Poirier, communications and grants manager for the city, said.

“One of the concerns was a possible tripping hazard due to the location of the snowman and the need to run an extension cord. In addition to this, there was no permit in place to have the inflatable snowman on the sidewalk, which is a requirement of city policy.”

Poirier says unfortunately, there was some miscommunication while bylaw was working with the business owner Thursday.

“Today, bylaw officers are working with the owner to try and get the proper permits in place and identify a safe location for the snowman, hoping to see him return to the front of the store.”

Poirier adds a bylaw officer was at the store Friday morning, working with the owner to find a solution.