A controversial manure cure for homelessness in Surrey was apparently the result of discussions between city staff and members of the Surrey RCMP, Deputy City Manager Dan Bottrill said Monday.

Bottrill said he is still trying to determine exactly who came up with the idea of spreading smelly chicken manure around a Whalley social service building to drive away vagrants.

City bylaw staff, RCMP and members of the Downtown Surrey Business Improvement Association (that represents local merchants) were involved in the talks, Bottrill said.

Bottrill said the Aug. 14 dumping at the Front Room drop-in centre in the 10600-block of 135A Street appears to be have been a result of a "well-intentioned" attempt at finding a solution to the problem of the many homeless people who hang out in the area.

Bottrill said whoever decided to proceed with the dumping did it without his approval.

"As soon as we found out about it, we took steps [to remove the manure] Bottrill told the Leader.

City crews showed up to remove the smelly bird waste with a truck-mounted industrial vacuum on Sunday.

On Monday they returned with gravel to cover up the dump sites and lime to kill the smell.

But some manure still remained, surrounding about half-a-dozen trees on another vacant lot about a block away, just west of the Surrey Food Bank on 135 Street.

When The Leader advised Bottrill of the remaining dump sites, he ordered crews to the other lot to perform an additional cleanup.

Whistle-blower Keith Smith was touring the drop-in centre and surrounding services as part of his schooling in drug and alcohol rehabilitation when he saw - and smelled - the chicken dung around the building.

He was shocked to hear from staff that local authorities put it there to deter the homeless.

"The stench of the chicken manure in the surrounding area is unbearable," Smith said in a letter to Mayor Dianne Watts.

"If the South Fraser Community Services (which runs the Front Room) were located strategically as a front line service to aid recovery of people in the active disease of addiction, why would the City of Surrey spread chicken manure along the perimeter of the vacant, rock covered lot, which separates the two South Fraser Community Service buildings?" Smith asked.

"Our neighbours in Vancouver seem to have a little better approach to the problem of dealing with the disease of substance abuse."

Smith said it was city trucks that delivered the manure and city crews that spread it out alongside the building.

One local said there were at least two visits by city trucks dumping the manure in the area.

Surrey Coun. Barinder Rasode told The Leader the manure plan was proposed by the Mounties.

"Our understanding is the RCMP initiated it," said Rasode, who said she was "deeply troubled" by the strategy.

Rasode insists elected officials did not know about the initiative.

"Mayor and council were not aware, senior management were not aware," Rasode said.

She said the city is trying to find out who came up with the plan.

"Somebody has overstepped their authority," Rasode said.

"I'm personally outraged," Rasode said.

"I think this is contrary to the position we've taken on the homeless."

Mayor Dianne Watts said she was "flabbergasted" to hear of the chicken dung directive, calling it disgusting and a health hazard.

"I'm certainly going to get to the bottom of this," said Watts.

- by Kevin Diakiw and Dan Ferguson

newsroom@surreyleader.com