Owners of a southern Alberta landmark say Rocky View County is throwing up unnecessary roadblocks and is preventing them from reopening their business after the flood.
The Bragg Creek Trading Post was wrecked in June when the Elbow River overflowed.
Rebuilding was well underway when a building inspector told them to stop or face fines and jail time.
Robb and Barbara Teghtmeyer have been working hard to reopen their business.
The damaged walls have been removed, metal beams have been put in to support the upper floors and a new cement pad was poured.
The trading post was on the road to recovery when a Rocky View County official ordered them to stop and get a development permit or risk going to jail.
“Maybe we are the poster child for enforcement too, I don't know,” said Barbara.
The Teghtmeyer’s son, John, thinks his mom and dad are being treated unfairly.
“We do feel like we are being singled out. We know no one else in the community that has had to apply for a permit and we see lots of building going on,” said John.
The county says requiring a development permit for this repair is a matter of safety and it says it's not singling the owners out.
A spokeperson for the permit office told CTV News that there are 21 buildings in Bragg Creek that were damaged so badly they need permits to rebuild and that one other site has been stopped as well.
Bragg Creek residents aren’t buying it and say they've watched houses and businesses across the hamlet be rebuilt, without permits, and many are wondering why restoring this landmark building is being blocked.
“Why pick on these guys? They have been affected more by the flood than anyone else, or one of the most affected out here, so ya it's ridiculous, There’s no other word for it, ridiculous,” said resident Marina Cooke.
Rocky View County claims the permit will be granted by mid-Octrober which would allow a building permit to be issued.
That means work won't likely be allowed at the business until the end of October.
The colder weather will likely be here by then and the Teghtmeyers fear the building could suffer further damage if it is left exposed to the elements all winter.
(With files from Kevin Green)
