City Council acts to improve first responder radio communications in buildings | Local News

The Terre Haute City Council on Thursday approved a measure aimed at improving firefighter and first responder radio communications inside new buildings.

It also tabled an ordinance revision related to special event permits; the revisions are focused on out-of-town promoters staging for-profit parties that have led to some violence in past years around the time of Indiana State University’s homecoming.

The council also appointed Dee Reed to serve on the Terre Haute Human Relations Commission.

Fire prevention code revisions

The council voted to amend the city’s fire prevention code to improve radio communications in large buildings.

According to city attorney Mike Wright, the changes would require new, commercial structures in the city over 5,000 square feet to test their structures to ensure there is adequate radio coverage so that firefighters and other first responders who enter the building can communicate.

It would also apply to significant renovations over 20%, said Scott Dalton, Terre Haute Fire Department battalion chief. Single family residential dwellings would not be affected.

According to Dalton, with development on the city’s east side, sometimes radios don’t function correctly inside buildings. “We looked at ways to solve that,” he said.

Buildings that can’t support the required level of radio coverage would have to be equipped with the technology to do so.

The Terre Haute Casino Resort installed a device called a repeater, which provides coverage for the entire building and acts like a big antenna for the building, Wright said, prior to the meeting.

It is an issue on the city’s east side, where larger, multi-story structures are going up, he said.

The state Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission will also have to sign off on the ordinance, Wright said.

The ordinance also makes changes related to consumer fireworks as to days and times they can be used; the changes are consistent with state law.

It also makes changes related to fireworks displays, again consistent with state law.

Special event permits revisions tabled

At the request of Mayor Brandon Sakbun, the council tabled an ordinance revising city code related to Special Event Permits.

Sakbun said additional revisions are needed related to exemptions.

“How can we craft legislation that allows our universities to have enjoyable experiences, but looks at hampering and lowering these out-of-town promoters that do not even go to the events,” yet sell tickets online and profit from the parties, Sakbun told the council.

Both the city and county require a special events permit for those conducting for-profit parties featuring dancing and music.

The original city ordinance was an effort to curb large, for-profit events where disturbances, including gunfire, have resulted over the years.

Last week, Dave Thompson of the Terre Haute Police Department said the code works throughout the year, except for the two weeks surrounding Indiana State University’s homecoming, when out-of-town promoters set up parties at which they charge admission fees.

Those parties can get out of hand, and the police department puts in a lot of overtime during that period trying to maintain order, Thompson had said.

Proposed revisions would apply during a two-week period associated with Indiana State University’s homecoming festivities (Oct. 15-31), when a permit fee would increase from $50 to $250. Other restrictions would apply.

The permits require liability insurance and a security plan.

Exemptions do exist for university-affiliated organizations, fraternal organization and similar groups for private gatherings.

ISU’s homecoming events are exempt, Wright said.

Sakbun said the way exemptions are currently worded, “It kind of limits some of our student organizations.”