Storage Container issue - Younkers letter
Juanita Hilkin
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Dubuque City Manager [ctymgr@cityofdubuque.org]
Wednesday, July 06,20059:13 AM
'Eric Dregne'
RE: Storage Container Issue
Dear Eric,
I appreciate your willingness to work on this project.
City staff has provided me information about the suggestion of Paul Fahey. This
definitely has merit as a part of a comprehensive program of review and inspection. As I
described in my memorandum to City Council, City staff does not have the time and
resources to create a safe situation. Taking time away from other duties to do the
additional inspections is not a viable solution. There will be continuing annual costs
and those need to be recovered.
I look forward to implementing a viable solution that creates a safe situation.
Michael C. Van Milligen
Dubuque City Manager
City Hall
50 West 13th
Dubuque, IA
563-589-4110
563-589-4149
Street
52001
- Telephone
- FAX
-----Original Message-----
From: Eric Dregne [mailto:Eric_Dregne@younkers.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July OS, 2005 7:16 PM
To: 'rbuol1@mchsi.com'j 'amichalski@cityofdubuque.org'j 'dnicholson@cityofdubuque.org'j
'jmarkham@cornerenergy.com'j 'jconnors63@mchsi.com'j 'pcline@cityofdubuque.org'j
'jschneid@cityofdubuque.org' j 'ctymgr@cityofdubuque.org'
Subject: Storage Container Issue
Mr. Mayor and City Council Members,
After reading the attached memo from the City Manager, I am concerned that the City
Manager has not fully considered an idea that Paul Fahey brought up and I definetly
supported during our most recent meetings with City Staff regarding the storage container
issue. The suggestion was made to set up requirements for retailers to have a site plan
and log established (filed with the city if you like) and kept on site.
The site plan and log would maintain information that would describe what is contained in
each container as well as a record of any inspections that take place. These inspections
could be done as a part of the existing fire dept inspections that take place currently
and would not require additional staffing for the inspections or administration, yet they
would ensure that the emergency response providers are satisfied that contents of
containers are safe and the containers themselves are placed and maintained in a way that
meet all safety regulations.
Failure to comply with these proposed regulations would result in a fine to the retailer
occupying the site. We recommended that the fines be significant to encourage compliance.
We also suggested that the Fire Dept adjust their inspection schedule to allow for
inspection of the approx. 95 businesses that use these types of containers as soon as the
regulation is in place in order to ensure compliance in a timely manner.
This suggestion meets both of the safety concerns of the Fire Department as expressed by
them at our meetingsj
1. Access to buildings, currently containers are placed in some locations that limit
access to buildings in an emergency situation. The site plan, kept on site and
reviewed/inspected by the Fire Dept., will ensure proper access is maintained.
2. Knowledge of contents, currently emergency personnel have no knowledge of
contents. The log, kept on site and reviewed/inspected by the Fire Dept., will ensure
knowledge of contents and allow input from the Fire Dept. regarding storage of unsafe
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combinations of contents, i.e. an accelerant and a combustible.
As you can see, this outline of our suggestion acknowledges the safety concerns and deals
with them effectively and allows retailers use of this critical/flexible piece of
infrastructure for our inventory management. It will also allow the Fire Dept to work
directly with retailers, just as they do now, to ensure the safety of their buildings on a
regular basis. I would remind you that this suggestion also does not require additional
administration or inspection personnel. Any of the cost of the limited administration that
may be required, if the city chooses to keep plans on file, could easily be recovered by
fines resulting from non-compliance.
I would also point out that Cindy and the rest of the city staff have been good partners
in these meetings. However, I encourage the city to consider ideas outside of the thought
process contained on the attached memo. I am convinced that doing so, will result in a
very workable ordinance that can be enforced at little or no cost to the city or to the
business community. I look forward to discussing this issue further and reaching a
workable solution for everyone. Thank you!
Eric Dregne
Younkers Store Manager
Dubuque
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