In his first legislative act as commissioner, Alex Rasin introduced a bill that would have overturned Bill No. 4-2010, which makes residential fire sprinklers optional instead of mandatory in new one- or two-family homes built for the owner’s own occupancy. Sprinkler systems are currently mandatory only in houses built on speculation in the county. However, state code requires sprinklers for new one- or two-family homes built for the owner’s occupancy.
“I would’ve voted with William (Pickrum) on this so that everyone is required to do it,” said Rasin, remembering Pickrum’s previous stance on the issue.
Pickrum voted against Bill No. 4-2010 when it came up for vote, and subsequently passed, last month. At the time he said, “I really think it would be in the best interest of the citizens of the county if we accepted the state code as written” and made sprinklers mandatory in all new one- and two-family homes. “Yes, it does increase the cost of construction, but the overriding cost of this is: it will save lives.”
This time, Pickrum voted against making sprinklers mandatory in new one- and two-family homes. Instead, he sided with Commissioner Ron Fithian, voting against Rasin’s proposed legislative alteration. In explaining his own vote, Ron Fithian said, ” I don’t think the government needs to tell me how to run my life.”
When asked by John Vail from the audience why he voted against making sprinklers mandatory this time around, Pickrum said, “We have an ordinance going into effect Dec. 31. Let’s see how it works.”
Liz Smith says
Frankly, this bill comes at a time when the economics of building is anything but economic. As we all know, the real estate market is in the doldrums, banks are generally not lending and there is a glut of housing. In my opinion, we should not legislate mandatory sprinklers that add significantly to the cost of new construction.
It is my understanding, that if a dwelling is in a town with public water, the sprinkler system must have a separate and dedicated meter for that system alone. If that is true, the cost of an additional permit, meter,and hookup fees to the building would add several thousand to the cost of the system. Would the homeowner receive a quarterly minimum water bill as a result of that additional meter, regardless of use? In Rock Hall, homeowners receive a quarterly minimum bill, whether they use a single gallon or not. Additionally, I fear that the next step will be to mandate sprinkler systems in all renovations.
We want the public to be safe… perhaps we should start by educating and trying to make smoke detectors available to all homeowners in the county. It is a challenge to match the needs of public safety with the overall fiscal limits of the individual, but I personally feel that less legislation is better in this case.
Steve Payne says
I’ve built many houses with sprinklers. They were required where I used to live. They cost around $1.00 per sq.ft. in a house with public water which isn’t alot of money considering the safety benefit. We wern’t required to have separate meters. A home on well water was more expensive because a storage tank and a pretty large pump is needed.
Kevin Shertz says
Liz Smith, a separate water meter is not required for a residential fire sprinkler system.
Jeff Thompson says
Unfortunately a lot of people need to educated about the facts. The fire service of Maryland and Kent County will continue to fight for mandatory sprinklers. The point is they protect lives and property at a low cost. Here is a question for you, How much does it cost the whole community when someone calls 911 to report a fire? We the volunteers in Kent County do what is expected of us and will continue to do so, but what is the real cost. Think about it. Sprinklers have proven themselves in numerous communities and would do so here. So sorry Commissioner Pickrum changed his mind so quickly.
Jeff Thompson says
Just for everyones information the Kent County Fire Chiefs have for many years now provided free smoke detectors to our community. All you have to do is contact your local fire company.
MBTroup says
Is this bizzaro world? Party politics doesn’t really matter in local politics, but bear with me. We’ve got a Republican who wants legislation. A Democrat who doesn’t want the government to get involved. And another Democrat who wanted what the new Republican wants, but no longer wants it, probably so as not to step on the toes of the new Commission prez.
John Vail, Worton says
Troup, my head is spinnig, too. While I suppose that there’s something to be said for legislative finality — I think that’s what Commissioner Pickrum’s vote meant — this is the wrong statute to practice it on.
Carried to its logical conclusion, Commissioner Fithian’s libertarian position of “I don’t need the government to tell me how to run my life” would do away with mandates for smoke detectors in new construction, inspections to enforce electrical codes, and requirements for septic systems. Let’s go back to the days of outhouses. Hey, while we’re at it, let’s do away with automobile seatbelts, airbags, and speed limits!
I don’t seriously think Commissioner Fithian wants to do any of those things, but that’s where the logic takes you.
Marty Stetson says
I will go on record now that I am in favor of mandated sprinklers. They save lives and property and spare our volunteer fire departments extra work when they are already hurting for volunteers to answer their fire calls. If we should ever have to go to paid fire departments the sprinkrlers would more than pay for themselves in a short time. The longer we can hold out from going to a paid fire department the more money we can put into doing overall good for the tax payer. ( If nothing else let them keep some of their tax paying money that would go to paying for a paid fire department) It is a question of pay now or pay later. That does even take into the really important manner of saving lives.