Mid Rivers Newsmagazine 6-21-17

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June 21, 2017
MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE
I NEWS I 9
of Aldermen has approved awarding a
$300,000 contract to All Inclusive Rec.
LLC for the design, materials and installation
of a new surface for the playground.
Funding for the project is from revenue
from Proposition P, a 10-year, half-cent
sale tax that city voters approved in 2013,
which will fund a number of parks and
public works projects.
ST. CHARLES COUNTY
Building code legislation
tabled again
The St. Charles County Council, on
June 12, again tabled legislation adopting
updated international building codes, but
not before two councilmembers rose to
their defense. One of those councilmembers
used to be the county’s top building
official.
Councilmember Dave Hammond [District
4], the county’s former building commissioner,
said today’s residential and
commercial building codes incorporate
research and input from a variety of professionals,
ranging from architects to real
estate professionals, to safeguard people’s
lives. Adopting updated codes incorporates
new and improved technology and
materials into the building process, he said.
“What people expect when they go into
a house is that the floor doesn’t collapse or
the roof doesn’t fall in or the wiring doesn’t
catch fire – that’s why we have building
codes,” Hammond said. “And the only
thing we’re doing is trying to keep up with
new codes and new building standards that
are used throughout this country.”
Other countries that don’t have comparable
codes are still seeing people dying
when buildings collapse or burn, he said.
International building codes originated
in this country and are now called international
because much of the rest of the
world wants to adopt them, he said.
“Now other countries are looking at us
and saying ‘hey, you guys have a great
record.’” Hammond said.
Hammond’s comments came after the
council again heard from residents opposing
the county adopting a series of international
residential, building, plumbing,
mechanic, fire and electrical codes. The
county is currently using the 2009 international
codes and typically amends it about
every six years to include code changes.
An ad-hoc committee that includes
Cronin and Joe Brazil and Councilmember
Michael Klinghammer [District 6] has
been reviewing the code with county staff
and suggesting changes. Cronin submitted
a substitute bill at the June 12 meeting that
include changes but the council opted to
delay final action to allow more review.
Cronin said he was concerned about the
impact of codes on the rural parts of the
county while safeguarding new home construction
in places like Wentzville and lowering
the cost of new homes. Builders told
him that the new codes could add $6,000
to $10,000 to the cost of new homes.
The substitute bill addresses many but
not all 2015 codes concerns, including
lowering fines for violations and limiting
regulations of fences in rural areas, he said.
About a dozen or more residents urged
the council during the public comment
portion of the meeting not to adopt the
2015 codes. Some voiced similar concerns
at the council’s May 30 meeting.
Councilmember Terry Hollander [District
5] took issue with some of the public
comment. “It seems to me that you are
against building codes,” Hollander said.
He said the adoption of building codes
has not hindered the growth of the county.
If there was such a huge problem, many
people would be coming before the council.
“I have not seen that in my eight years
on the council.”
In the last six weeks, he also said he
has not gotten a call from builders saying
the updates are off base. Residents have
done a great job in pointing out problems,
which the substitute bill may help correct,
he said.
Brazil, however, was skeptical, suggesting
that the county administration was
“pushing” for their passage. He said he and
Cronin represent the most rural parts of
the county. Other councilmembers don’t
receive complaints about building issues
because residents deal with municipalities
that have their own building departments,
he added.
Brazil drew some sharp criticism from
other councilmembers and County Executive
Steve Ehlmann, who defended a staff
memo on the issue.
Klinghammer said the county has not
“rubber-stamped” the new code changes
and has listened to comments and may
make more changes that are reflected in
the substitute bill.
He said the world has changed from the
time someone could buy a pile of lumber
and build their own house. “That’s not
the situation that we’re in today,” he said.
“The houses that we live in are a whole lot
safer because of that.”
Veterans’ group to collects
worn, damaged flags
The veterans’ group for St. Charles
County government will host a flag collection
day from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on June 28
at the intersection of Second and Monroe
Streets in St. Charles.
Veterans who are county employees,
along with Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts,
will collect worn and damaged U.S. Flags
for proper disposal at a ceremony later this
year.
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