The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutStorm Shelter e-mail from resident Brevig, Penny From:Tim LaPosa <tlaposa@abgmn.com> Sent:Thursday, September 5, 2019 8:56 AM To:WEB CouncilInfo Email Cc:Brevig, Penny Subject:Storm Shelter Ordinance To Lakeville City Council and Planning Commission Members (Could not find email, please forward to members) Good morning, I am writing this because I am unable to make it to the Planning meeting tonight for the Public hearing on storm shelters, but I feel my opinion needs to be stated. I have lived in Lakeville for over 5 years now and before that, 16 years just over the border in Farmington. When we downsized, I picked Lakeville for many reasons, economic development, city safety departments and general quality of life I saw in this city. Since I was looking at a townhome, I knew about the storm shelter ordinance, and that was another reason I picked Lakeville. This is a very important feature in a slab home, community shelters don’t work, I will explain why in a minute. Safety should never be compromised or put in the category of saving a few bucks. With climate change, our springs and general storm season’s aren’t going to get any less active, so this isn’t the way to save money, we need to continue to give our citizens a safe haven to protect themselves. I lived in Wichita, KS for 10 years and not only am I a Storm Spotter, but lived through my share of bad storms and tornados. One event in particular will explain my opinion on community shelters…in 1984 I lived in a new trailer home, in a nice trailer community in Wichita. One evening, a line of severe storms was approaching Wichita and our area, my wife at that time was at work and I was home alone with our 6 month old Miniature Schnauzer puppy. The tornado sirens sounded and the skies were black and the wind was gusting. There was a reported tornado just NW of us and so I decided to go to our shelter, a block and a half from our lot. But another issue was that pets were NOT allowed in the shelter. So I remember sitting there, a kid at 21, alone, wondering if I should chance it in the trailer or go to the shelter. I didn’t want to leave my pup, and as the storm worsened, I panicked and decided to go to the shelter, with the picture of my scared pup’s face in my head…when I got to the shelter, everyone was trying to get in at once, when we finally got in the scene was chaos. Kids screaming and crying, adults yelling at their kids and the whole floor was covered in crickets! Dead and alive, obviously not cleaned for a few days. I stood their for 5 minutes, and couldn’t stop thinking about my pup and decided to get out of that place and go back with her, and I did and thank God the tornado didn’t hit us. But this experience showed me that this wasn’t the way to go, and we needed a safer alternative. I was never without a basement after that. Having an inside and convenient shelter is the way to continue to keep our residents safe, no amount of money saved can replace a lost family member and I can’t believe this is even being considered. Especially now when so many slab townhomes are going up, I hope this isn’t because a home builder complained…that would be an irresponsible decision to make for our citizens. We have a fire department, smoke detectors are required as well as CO2 detectors. We have fire hydrants on every street, should we consider making these optional to save money? How many citizens actually use these in their lifetime? Of course we wouldn’t, they are there to protect us in case the worse happens, and that is what storm shelters and basements do for us and should not be taken away. How are you going to feel if you vote to stop shelters, and down the road we do get hit by a tornado or storm that destroys a townhome without a shelter, and someone gets seriously hurt or killed? When a shelter would have saved this person but money was your concern. 1 So please do the correct, responsible and humane thing and keep the shelter requirement. Contact FEMA and see if there is a less expensive and still safe alternative? Technology continues to improve these type of shelters, don’t act until you have ALL the facts, and not because it’s a way to save money, that is a sad, selfish idea. Thanks for your time, Tim LaPosa 16312 Javari Ct Lakeville,MN 55044 612-817-7125 laposat@msn.com Tim LaPosa System Administrator Direct: (651) 888-7517 Toll Free: (800) 737-2426, Opt. 5, Ext. 517 Fax: (651) 234-2312 7900 97th Street South | Cottage Grove, MN 55016 2