This city government has gone too far!

[joeintexas]

Just saw this on youtube, I can't imagine what that city council is thinking.

YouTube - ‪City Government demands all keys to properties belonging to Cedar Falls residents.‬‏

 

[66TAS]

Thats outrageous!! I love how all the elected officials dodged and ducked the constitutionality of their proposed ordinance. Sorry, but the govt does not need my key!

 

[MarineSgtjimh]

It will not happen at my house

 

[Maximumbob54]

This is the kind of stuff that starts people on the path of citizen militia groups. I bet most of these city council members don't even get voted out next election.

 

[keith44spl]

What?
No one even thought to say,

"It's for the Children!"

 

[snowman]

Unbelievable. If every one of those voting affirmatively is not removed from office and that ordinance repealed, and/or is there is not a class-action suit brought and the courts rule the ordinance unconstitutional, then the voting residents of that city deserve what they get.

My blood pressure is becoming a problem just thinking about this. I had better go do something else.

Andy

 

[NFrameFred]

The more power the "government" gets the more power the "government" wants.

Now allowing that the majority of "government" is made up of overwhelming numbers of people who go out of their way to want to run everyone elses lives, how much more of this kind of thing are THE PEOPLE (as in YOU citizens of Iowa) going to stand for ?

If most of these pogues that think up this kind of **** actually had to WORK for a living they'd starve to death . . . .

 

[Steve in Vermont]

What should have ended the debate was the statement the woman made, if her house was on fire she wasn't going to worry about the cost of the front door (if the FD had to break it down). I believe these counsel members have sole mates in the halls of congress.

 

[rondo]

I used to work for a large municipality and have seen this kind of thing firsthand. We too had an overzealous fire chief that came up with many crazy ideas, all in the name of public safety. You would be surprised at how gullible council critters can be.

 

[venomballistics]

I'd like to think that constitutionality is at the forefront of the draft of laws and ordinances. this practice would save a whole lot of time in the courts better spent processing other cases...
I'd like to think this ... however I don't.

 

[kewpie]

To me the real issue/danger is that such 'laws' would never even be proposed if the 'proposers' didn't think that most of the public was amenable to them.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Thought about this all morning since I saw it and still trying to figure how the city councel thinks this makes you "safe"....???

 

[CelticSire]

Actually, they are changing an already existing ordnance in place since 2004 that requires lock boxes on all commercial buildings with alarm system, and apartment complexes with more than 6 units. The change is to all commercial buildings, and apartment complexes with more than three units. No mention of stand-alone private residences. Yet. It's a very slippery slope, however.

 

[JamesArthur60]

Now I know! I wondered who and what city government would take the first baby steps for total control. It appears it has happened in the midwest. Government knows it cannot make a hugh forceful display of a total take over. So, they take a small action here and a small action there. Give me your keys! That must be the first baby step. I'm waiting for what's next to come, and where. My America is changing. By the way, I live in the midwest and THEY are not getting my keys. Business or residential...no way.

 

[357larry]

The city of Topeka Kansas enacted a similar law back about the year 2000 IIRC. Theirs dealt with commercial properties only. The business owners were required to purchase a heavy steel box and mount it on the outside wall of the business by the front door. This box had a door on it which locked with an 8 pin barrel key, and the Fire Department possesed the key. The business was required to furnish the keys to the front door to the FD, who would then secure the keys inside the box.
One problem I have with this idea is that barrel locks are some of the easiest to get around. There are inexpensive tools advertised on the internet which will open these locks in a couple of seconds. Not really that secure.
At the time there were rumors that some of the high-ranking officials on the FD were getting kickbacks from the manufacturer of the lock box. IIRC the price of the box back then was over $400, and the business was required to pay for it. In all I would bet that these boxes were manufactured for around $20 each. That's a healthy profit margin.

 

[setxn]

Knoxbox key boxes are common in this area. They may be required for commercial property with an alarm system by now. Most places liked them because the did not require a keyholder to respond to open up to check for a most likely,statistically proven false alarm.Most false calls tended to be a mechanical/electronic problems often because of poor maintenance by owner or alarm company.Most commercial properties benefit from insurance breaks,this their reason to have alarm coverage.Occupancies that are covered by alarms/sprinklers due to life safety reasons are a whole different story. Being able to investigate and clear the scene in 15 minutes instead of maybe 1 hr + is a great advantage for first responders. The only residential lock boxes I ever dealt with were installed by choice due to elderly,handicapped etc. that could or did require assistance. The Knoxbox brand keyboxes need a pass code,pass card,coded radio signal or some other means not know to me to open. The time ,date,person ,etc is recorded and logged , so not just anyone can gain access. I would have guessed that keith44spl would have been a little more trusting of public servants-Just sayin...

 

[moosedog]

They'll get my key when thy pry it from my cold, dead,.........ah never mind.

These people that run for office seem to live in a different reality. I'm sure they even think they are doing the right thing.

 

[NFrameFred]

Like most ideas that could be classified as "liberal", the basic premise usually has some merit and benefit. BUT - the lust for power is insatiable and the tendency of any program that the "government" pays for and employs folks who like getting the paycheck can be guaranteed to feed and grow and expand - never cut back. And to justify that growth the power and need has to be expanded and justified. So they continually look for ways never originally intended to use whatever means/device to guarantee job security.

After all, 'it's for the children' . . . or, 'it's for public safety' . . . or 'it's for the common good'. . . . or, insert your own sacred mantra that justifies continued employment from the public till.

 

[ladder13]

Knoxbox key boxes are common in this area. They may be required for commercial property with an alarm system by now. Most places liked them because the did not require a keyholder to respond to open up to check for a most likely,statistically proven false alarm.Most false calls tended to be a mechanical/electronic problems often because of poor maintenance by owner or alarm company.Most commercial properties benefit from insurance breaks,this their reason to have alarm coverage.Occupancies that are covered by alarms/sprinklers due to life safety reasons are a whole different story. Being able to investigate and clear the scene in 15 minutes instead of maybe 1 hr + is a great advantage for first responders. The only residential lock boxes I ever dealt with were installed by choice due to elderly,handicapped etc. that could or did require assistance. The Knoxbox brand keyboxes need a pass code,pass card,coded radio signal or some other means not know to me to open. The time ,date,person ,etc is recorded and logged , so not just anyone can gain access. I would have guessed that keith44spl would have been a little more trusting of public servants-Just sayin...

Nothing like sitting on a job for an hour or longer waiting for a keyholder , and having other units leaving their districts responding to your calls.

 

[P&R Fan]

This story was in the local newspapers yesterday. Check it out at WCFCourier.com. It states this is only for apartment complexes with six or more units.
I can see the arguments on both sides. One thing that I haven't heard mentioned, and maybe some of the firefighter/EMT folks could comment on, is it will help when they get a medical emergency call and the person can't let them in.
Just a thought.
Jim