Agenda Packets - 2003/10/13 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council September 22, 2003 Regular Meeting Page 3 Fire Chief Zikmund indicated that less than 5% of fire deaths occur in commercial or industrial 1 types of occupancy due to increased inspections and requirements. 2 3 Fire Chief Zikmund indicated that Mounds View pays $174,000 for fire protection per year with 4 a reduction in calls resulting in a savings to the City. 5 6 Fire Chief Zikmund indicated that high hazard operations are yearly inspected and low hazard 7 operations are done on a three-year cycle. 8 9 Fire Chief Zikmund indicated that the fire code inspector and building code inspector is a joint 10 position for the City indicating that this type of set up works for a small city. He then said there 11 are approximately 1,000 building inspections yearly and only 50 fire inspections per year. 12 13 Fire Chief Zikmund indicated that Jeremiah Anderson when he does his yearly inspections has 14 been trained to look for obvious fire code violations. 15 16 Fire Chief Zikmund indicated that they have issued one citation in the last five years and that was 17 to the property owner in question. He then indicated that the manager was looking to buy the 18 operation and invited them for the fire inspection. He further explained that there were a few 19 minor issues including the sprinkler test requirement. The sprinkler contractor noted two 20 deficiencies including a missing head in the utility room and a head that had a piece of plywood 21 under it. The property owner had the option of moving the plywood or putting another head 22 below it but he refused to do so and a citation was issued and the judge issued a ruling in favor of 23 the City on the spot upon hearing the facts. 24 25 Fire Chief Zikmund indicated that in five years the City has had approximately 24 serious 26 violations usually involving sprinkler issues. He then commented that the City went through a 27 period of time with spec buildings in the industrial park and the density of those sprinkler 28 systems needed to be increased at a cost of around $100,000 or more. 29 30 Fire Chief Zikmund indicated that all code violations are potentially serious and noted they 31 recently received a letter thanking them for eliminating potential serious issue. 32 33 Council Member Stigney asked whether the Schwinn owner was in attendance. He then 34 indicated that he was under the impression that the owner had put in new sprinkler heads and that 35 was what he was complaining about. 36 37 Fire Chief Zikmund indicated that the sprinkler contractor he hired noted two deficiencies of two 38 heads, one in the utility room and one under the plywood. He then listed the other very minor 39 items that were corrected. 40 41 Council Member Marty asked how the sprinkler system is tested without filling the business with 42 water. 43 44