Where's the harm?
Posted: Wednesday, November 26, 2008
If every other city in Iowa allows homeowners to do their own electrical, plumbing and mechanical work, then why can't Sioux City?
That's a question we'd like to see answered in a staff report to the City Council on Monday about a suggestion made by Councilman Aaron Rochester. Recently, Rochester proposed an ordinance change which would allow homeowners to perform all types of electrical, plumbing and mechanical work, then have the work inspected by the city.
Many homeowners are capable of doing these kinds of jobs well and prefer to undertake the labor themselves for reasons of cost. That's understandable, particularly in today's economy.
Where's the harm in letting them?
As for safety concerns expressed by opponents of Rochester's idea, let's face it, we all know some homeowners already do this kind of work on their own. Under the present ordinance, do-it-yourselfers are, as Rochester told the Journal's Lynn Zerschling for a story in our Sunday editions, driven "underground," figuratively speaking. Wouldn't it be better for homeowners, for safety and for the city if more of this work was done above ground, if you will?
If the ordinance change was adopted, some homeowners wouldn't have work they do on their own inspected, while the pros would remain as busy as they are today because some homeowners would continue to hire them to do their work.
The change Rochester proposes is targeted at responsible do-it-yourselfers, it seems to us. They, we believe and trust, would have an inspector look at their work.
This is the only place in our state where that kind of freedom doesn't exist. It seems reasonable to wonder why.
That's a question we'd like to see answered in a staff report to the City Council on Monday about a suggestion made by Councilman Aaron Rochester. Recently, Rochester proposed an ordinance change which would allow homeowners to perform all types of electrical, plumbing and mechanical work, then have the work inspected by the city.
Many homeowners are capable of doing these kinds of jobs well and prefer to undertake the labor themselves for reasons of cost. That's understandable, particularly in today's economy.
Where's the harm in letting them?
As for safety concerns expressed by opponents of Rochester's idea, let's face it, we all know some homeowners already do this kind of work on their own. Under the present ordinance, do-it-yourselfers are, as Rochester told the Journal's Lynn Zerschling for a story in our Sunday editions, driven "underground," figuratively speaking. Wouldn't it be better for homeowners, for safety and for the city if more of this work was done above ground, if you will?
If the ordinance change was adopted, some homeowners wouldn't have work they do on their own inspected, while the pros would remain as busy as they are today because some homeowners would continue to hire them to do their work.
The change Rochester proposes is targeted at responsible do-it-yourselfers, it seems to us. They, we believe and trust, would have an inspector look at their work.
This is the only place in our state where that kind of freedom doesn't exist. It seems reasonable to wonder why.
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Dan Finken wrote on Dec 15, 2008 7:52 PM:
Joe wrote on Dec 1, 2008 9:46 AM:
4 years of plumbing school wrote on Nov 30, 2008 7:30 AM:
FlimFlam wrote on Nov 29, 2008 6:36 PM:
Lee, If the work being done is properly inspected then there is no reason for you to fear fire or the like. Your bypass surgery analogy is absurd.
4 years of plumbing school, this attitude is exactly why we don't want you in our homes anymore. The work I've had done by your ilk has not only been sub-par but your prices are simply ridiculous. I have had to pay for some of the worst hackery by the so called Sioux City Trades and that p!sses me off. In every occasion except one from Concrete to Electrical to plumbing I could have done a better job myself but was forced to except your butchery.
The work absolutely must be inspected but there is no reason I can't do it myself.
Let those of us who can do it ourselves do it ourselves. "
4 years of plumbing school wrote on Nov 26, 2008 5:12 PM: