By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
Looking to avoid causing anger in business owners and costly changes required of them, Decatur Building/Zoning Superintendent Curt Witte brought a key problem before the city’s board of works and safety at its latest meeting.
Witte explained that all commercial buildings in the city are classified according to how they are used.
On some occasions, however, an annual fire inspection of the building will discover that it has changed ownership and is a different type of business and so it needs to be reclassified.
That classification change could require expensive alterations be made to the building – and angry owners who did not know of the requirement when they purchased the business and made the changeover.
Witte would like to put a business classification form on the city’s code books.
“We just want the information,” he said.
Mayor Dan Rickord agreed that the information is needed, especially for the fire department. But he questioned how that would avoid a change being made without Witte’s department knowing about it unless an owner would fill out the classification form.
“Those who call ahead find out what they need to do (when a business change is made),” Fire Chief Jeff Sheets said.
His department, of course, wants to be aware of what is inside a building when firefighters rush in to fight a fire.
City Attorney Anne Razo recommended that such a form and required reclassification be placed in a city ordinance, which would need city council approval.
The matter was taken under advisement.
About the Author
