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PEQUOT LAKES FIRE DEPARTMENT 4638 County Road 11 Pequot Lakes, NIN 56472 (218)568-8201 Fax(218)568-7672 pe_quotfd,<pequotlakes-inn.gov TO: Pequot Lakes Planning Commission FROM: Tom Nelson, Chief DATE: October 12, 2011 RE: Building Codes / Building Official I would like to propose that the City of Pequot Lakes/Pequot Lakes Planning Commission consider adopting the State Building Code. By adopting the State Building Code, this would help ensure the safety of the citizens of Pequot Lakes and members of the Pequot Lakes Fire Department. Mr. Mahron, of Community Growth, stated at the Planning meeting in September that communities with a building official and the State Building Code in place have a higher valuation than communities that don't. It is a benefit to the City to move in this direction. The cost to the city for a building official would be minimal (little to no cost). The permit fees cover the costs of —,he inspections. The City would work out an agreement with the building official and charge the permit fees accordingly. The City can set the fees to a reasonable rate by adopting an older fee schedule. Yes, you would need to get a permit to change a water heater, but the fee could be minimal, and it would ensure that the person that Mrs. Smith has install the water heater does so correctly and does not end up killing her due to carbon monoxide poisoning or worse yet, blowing up the house because they didn't connect it correctly. Contractors have stated they would rather see a city adopt building codes so when they bid on a job, everyone is bidding equally, knowing that it has to be built to code and the same rules apply to everyone. Cities without building codes/building officials have contractors who can underbid because there is no one checking to see what is actually being done. Are they installing the drywall on the underside of stairs as a fire barrier? Are they ensuring that there is a fire barrier between the house and the attached garage? When you are purchasing a home, don't you want to know it was built correctly and that you and your family will be safe? Change is hard, human nature generally resists change. Pequot Lakes is already charging for permits, but does little to ensure that codes are being followed. We have several situations in Pequot Lakes right now where additions were done, permits were obtained, and the final product is not up to code. This puts citizens in danger. Do you really want to wait for a tragedy to happen and realize that perhaps we should have had a building official and building codes to follow? Please consider doing something before that happens. Our firefighters put their lives on the line when they respond to every call. Having to wont' if the home is built to code should not be something that we worry about. If you have any questions please let me know. hank you, Tom Nelson, Chief