Businesses circulate letter asking Hillsboro City Council to rescind fire inspection fees

A letter requesting Hillsboro City Council to rescind legislation approved last year which permits fire inspection fees is being circulated by a number of Hillsboro business owners. The letter reads as follows:  

To: Hillsboro City Council

130 North High Street

Hillsboro, Ohio 45133

Tel.: (937) 393-5219

Fx.: (937) 393-0516

re: A Jan. 11, 2010 Public Note on Fire Inspections issued by Hillsboro Fire and Rescue

We, the undersigned, respectfully urge members of the Hillsboro City Council to rescind legislation which authorized the aforementioned Jan. 11, 2010 Public Notice from Hillsboro Fire and Rescue.

As written, this Public Notice – if not rescinded or modified – would result in yearly inspection fees ranging from $25 to $250 on Hillsboro businesses, schools and other entities.

What remains unclear in this Public Notice are the potential penalties or fines which may be levied should an entity fail to pass the inspection, or refuse to permit an inspection. Also unclear is the potential for additional departmental expenses related to said inspections.

Moreover, with Highland County leading the entire state of Ohio in unemployment at a staggering 16.1 percent, we feel this legislation adds an unreasonable expense and undue burden to local businesses, many of which are struggling to remain viable in this most difficult economy.

With all due respect, we do not see this as a “business friendly” city ordinance; nor can we imagine that this was the genuine intention of council at the time the ordinance was approved.

While we greatly appreciate the efforts of Hillsboro Fire and Rescue, as well as Hillsboro City Council, we nevertheless feel compelled to urge you to rescind this onerous mandate.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

***

Following is a copy of a Jan. 11, 2010 letter from Hillsboro Fire and Rescue, as authorized by Hillsboro City Council in Ordinance 2009-2, Part 15, Pages 9 and 10.

The Hillsboro Fire Department would like to inform the citizens of Hillsboro that as of Jan. 1, 2010, there will be an annual Fire

Inspection performed on every commercial business and multiple family dwelling in the City of Hillsboro.

There will also be fire inspections on food service vendors at street fairs, fairs, and festivals. There will be a fee for the annual inspections set forth by the new codified ordinances of Hillsboro Part Fifteen-Fire Prevention. 

The fees are as follows:

1. Commercial inspection less than 2,500 sq. ft., $75.

2. Commercial inspection more than 2,500 sq. ft., $150.

3. Food service inspection, $25.

4. Heath care facilities inspection, $250.

5. Residential and foster care inspection, $35.

6. Flammable above-ground storage tank inspection, $100.

7. In-service training, $100.

8. School inspection per structure, $250.

9. Copy of fire report, $10.

10. Preschool and daycare inspection, $35.

Your facility will be contacted with prior notification of an upcoming inspection date. Fire inspections are performed for the benefit of your establishment and the safety of the citizens of the City of Hillsboro and surrounding areas.

If you have any questions, please contact the Hillsboro Fire Department at 937-393-2902.

Thank you, Asst. Chief Ed Puckett