Illinois Senate President John Cullerton
Add Illinois Senate President John Cullerton to the growing list of opponents to a proposal by Illinois State Fire Marshal Larry Matkaitis to mandate costly fire sprinkler systems in all new residential construction in Illinois as well as the retrofitting of existing high-rise buildings and other structures.
In a sharply-worded letter, Cullerton urged Matkaitis to withdraw his proposal pending before the state legislature’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR), according to reports in The Illinois Observer.
Calling the proposal “unnecessary, unreasonable and it represents an inappropriate extension of the rulemaking authority granted to you under the Fire Investigation Act,” Cullerton said that if the proposal isn’t withdrawn he will intercede and ask legislators serving on JCAR to reject the rule proposal.
“This sweeping regulation would further burden an already fragile homebuilding industry, and it would have disastrous financial implications for homeowners, condo associations, religious organizations and business throughout the state of Illinois, who will ultimately pay the price for these costly and unnecessary installations,” Cullerton wrote.
State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, has also sent a letter, this one to Gov. Pat Quinn, urging him to encourage the Fire Marshal to withdraw the sprinkler proposal as Chicago already some of the toughest fire safety laws and retrofitting high-rise buildings would just force residents to pay catastrophic fees.
Meanwhile tempers flared at two town hall meetings held in Chicago on Wednesday where property owners and residents voiced concerns about the financial burdens a sprinkler mandate would bring.
High-rise residents up in arms over sprinkler proposal – Chicago Sun-Times
Fire Marshal’s Absence Sparks Anger From Condo Owners At Meeting – CBS 2
