Ramsey Resident - 2004 - September/October

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11 RECYCLING ~ CONTRACTWITH ~~ ACE SOLID WASTE EXTENDED FOR ONE YEAR 1306 ADOPTION A BIG STEP FOR PUBLIC SAFETY The Ramsey City Council recently adopted Chapter 1306 of the State of Minnesota Building Code. This chapter requires fire suppression sprinl(ler systems in NEW residential occupancies that exceed 8,500 gross square feet (includes basements, garages, and all levels ) and! or three stories or greater. It lowers the sprinkler thresholds on commercial property as well. Any commercial structure that is new, added on to, or changes occupancy that is not currently sprinl(lered will be required to be if the building fits the 1306 requirements. Though the state adopted 1306 as part of the building code as a part of state law, it does not enforce it, requiring cities to elect to enforce it by ordinance. This new ordinance tool( effect July 23, 2004. Any building permits submitted after this date that fit the requirements of Chapter 1306 will be required to add a fire suppression system to the occupancy. This ordinance was originated by the Ramsey Fire Department and supported by the Building Department with the intent of saving lives and property as well as reducing the risk of firefighter injury or death. Firefighting is very dangerous and becomes more complex when occupancies are attached to one another, access is reduced, and structures are close to one another. The key to fire suppression systems is that statistics show that most fires are controlled with one sprinl(ler head! This means that in most cases, the Fire Department will be called to help clean up some water rather then try to save the adjacent building from burning down. A single sprinl(ler head flows approximately 15 gallons per minute compared to a fire hose that flows 100-250 gallons per minute, causing less water damage to the property. Additionally, because these structures will be sprinl(lered, the adjacent properties have a much greater chance that they will not lose their life belongings or life because of a neighbor's misfortune. Statistics also show that there is a one in sixteen million chance that a sprinl(ler head will activate on its own. The sprinkler head is designed with a solder rated at a certain melting temperature. If there is a fire, the temperature rises within the room and melts the solder, allowing the water to flow out of a head closest to the fire. Unlike the movies, all heads do not go off at the same time. The water then hits a deflection plate and sprays water in an inverted cone to control the fire that spreads approximately 16 feet in diameter. F or years, the National Fire Administration statistics have shown that majority of the fire deaths within the country occur in a residence. This means that the place we are supposed to feel the safest becomes the most dangerous in the event of a fire. Building and fire codes have addressed this issue by requiring smoke detectors within your home. These early warning devices, if properly maintained, work for you 24/7 and save many lives. If you were to have a fire within your home today, it is most likely to occur in your kitchen or at night when we are sleeping. This means if your Continued on Page 14 The City of Ramsey and Ace Solid Waste have agreed to a one year extension to the recycling contract for the curbside collection of residential recyclables. Ace Solid Waste, which calls Ramsey home, agreed to continue its service through December 31,2005 at the current rate of$I.88 per residence per month. The collection schedule and the materials collected will remain the same. Don't forget, recycling is easy - it reduces the waste stream and is a great way to l(eep Ramsey beautiful. Food and beverage glass, cans, and plastic bottles with a neck can all go directly into the recycling bin. Newspaper, phone books, magazines, and junk mail should be placed in a paper bag for collection. Corrugated cardboard also is collected curbside. It should be cut into 3 foot by 3 foot sections and bundled together no greater than 1 inch thick. For more information about Ramsey's recycling program, contact Chris Anderson at (763) 433-9905. For information about whether specific items are accepted curbside, please contact Ace Solid Waste at (763) 427-3110. FREE DOLLARS INTO SENSE CLASSES Anoka County Extension Service Staff and Dollar Works Volunteers will present Free Dollars Into Sense classes on September 21 st and October 19th, 10:00 a.m. at the Bunl(er Hills Activities Center (550 Bunl(er Lake Blvd, Andover) and again at 7:00 p.m. at the Northtown Library (711 County Rd 10 NE, Blaine). To register, call the University of Minnesota Extension Service, Anoka County, at 763- 755-1280 at least three days prior to the class you wish to attend. Classes will cover budgeting and address credit issues, tracking expenses, mal(ing a spending plan, goal setting and how to get help. One pound of learning requires ten pounds of comlnon sense to apply it.