Cost would fall on shoulders of property, business owners
By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
A range of property owners could be required to purchase equipment aimed at giving Whitewater firefighters immediate access to a building if an alarm is sounded. An ordinance pertaining to the new requirement is under review.
The Common Council on June 16 held a preliminary reading of the ordinance, which would require many property owners purchase lock boxes that would securely store an access key at an exterior location of the building. The ordinance does not apply to one large group: single-family properties.
The boxes, which would be purchased at a cost of about $250, would be borne on businesses or property owners. A representative from each building would need to purchase the lock box kit from a company known as Knox.
Officials are expected to hold a second, final reading of the ordinance Tuesday, July 6.
As stated in the ordinance, if the plan moves forward, it would apply to commercial and industrial buildings, most nursing care facilities and all sites housing government and public, private and parochial school functions.
The ordinance also would apply to multi-family developments that house three or more units and require access through a common corridor.
A number of municipalities, including a smattering across Southeastern Wisconsin, have been requiring property owners purchase lock boxes.
Fire Chief Don Gregoire said there are several virtues toward implementing such a system.
“When an alarm goes off, we need to know why,” Gregoire said. “We should be inspecting every inch of the building, which is difficult to do if we cannot gain access.”
If firefighters were to leave an igniting scene, Gregoire said, “The city would be liable. It’s just not good business.”
If the ordinance is adopted next week, as anticipated, impacted property owners would have a six-month grace period, sun setting in early January, to purchase the lock boxes or face fines for not complying with city code.
Gregoire said he and other fire staffers would review hardship cases, should they arise, on a case-by-case basis.
