Tom: I understand that certain water purveyors in MA in fact do charge usurious fees for service upgrades such as 1" meters to homes furnished with residential sprinklers. That seems to be a much more prevalent - and nationwide - practice than the huge service charge that the Charleston water department is now having to reconcile.
Here in San Diego County alone there are at least 3 water purveyors that I know of who have charges of $3000 or higher (and it's likely more than just 3; we have dozens of water districts just in our county and there are hundreds and hundreds in the State of CA) for a 1" meter upgrade from 3/4". Until recently, one district was trying to charge $8K even if the trigger was capacity for sprinklers. Until these bureaucratic and statutory deal-killers are eliminated, there will continue to be leverage for the anti-sprinkler forces who arbitrarily oppose residential and retrofit ordinances. It wouldn't hurt if Congress would get off its collective ass and pass the tax incentive bill either. Steve Leyton PROTECTION DESIGN & CONSULTING -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Tom Duross Sent: Saturday, July 07, 2007 12:45 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: Charlestown blaze sparks reduction in Tap Fees That's really something George. We have some pretty steep fees around these pahts but not like that. I've seen tap fees up to 1K an inch and "rental" fees in line with theirs' with no service returned but that's really something. I think I'll write Al Gore (Jr.) about it, he's wicked smaht. Tom Duross Go Red Sox -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of George Church Sent: Saturday, July 07, 2007 2:57 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Charlestown blaze sparks reduction in Tap Fees Maybe this will add some Forum participants in getting ridiculous tap fees reduced PRIOR to deaths occurring, don't be afraid to forward it to any water companies/mayors where you are fighting/enduring this, with a little note that there's no reason this couldn't happen in YOUR town, and if you really want to add a little fuel to the fire (sorry) you could copy their solicitor with a suggestion about contributory extortion (well, it wouldn't be negligence but there's got to be a legal term for setting prices so high you deprive citizens of the ability to provide needed protection/security). As a Former Louisville Chief said, "It's a shame this has to be at the expense of tombstones." George Church Rowe Sprinkler (copy from link cut and pasted below for your reading convenience) http://news.ccpblogs.com/2007/07/06/sofa-store-update-sprinklers-and-fir e-in vestigation/ >From Press Time A Charleston City Paper News Blog Sofa Store Update: Sprinklers and Fire Investigation Posted by Greg Hambrick on July 6th, 2007 After a couple of stories in the Post and Courier about Charleston's ridiculous sprinkler fees, the Charleston Water System is planning to eliminate most of the cost that any reasonable person would consider a barrier for some businesses to install sprinkler systems. The sofa store where nine firefighters lost their lives battling a fire was not equipped with sprinklers. The water system has charged $52,500 start-up fee with a $1,800 to $2,200 annual fee. The start-up fees are going to be eliminated and the annual rate reduced to less than $300. While some may see this as the water service taking a hit for safety, I'm more inclined to believe the group got busted with a ridiculously over-priced fee. Meanwhile, the fire department was back in the news today, with federal investigators forced to plead with local Fire Chief Rusty Thomas and Mayor Joe Riley to let them interview firefighters regarding the sofa store blaze. Riley told the Post and Courier that the perceived refusal by Thomas was a misunderstanding and that the city would allow the interviews in coordination with state investigators who will also be speaking with firefighters this week. _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field)
