Council approves first reading to require digital submission of fire inspection documentation

The Fort Atkinson City Council on Tuesday approved first reading of an ordinance to amend the municipal fire prevention code to require electronic submission of inspection documentation and verification of corrective actions.

Fire Chief Peterson said the change is intended to improve compliance tracking for as many as 700 annual inspections of local businesses and facilities and to reduce staff time spent chasing paper records. "This ordinance will grant the fire chief the authority to require digital submission of these annual inspections and to document verification of correction of code violations that we find on our inspections," Peterson said. He added the change aligns with state requirements that businesses maintain annual inspections for equipment such as sprinklers, alarms, extinguishers and hood-suppression systems.

Staff told the council there is no cost to the city or to businesses beyond existing state-mandated inspection requirements; in noncompliance cases the department may impose a reinspection fee to offset the cost of additional visits. The ordinance was approved for second reading and possible final adoption at the Aug. 5 council meeting.

City staff characterized the measure as an efficiency and accountability improvement rather than a new regulatory burden: businesses still must meet existing state code, but the city would now be able to request electronic verification to streamline follow-up and reduce unnecessary on-site visits.

The council voted to direct the city manager to prepare the ordinance for the next reading and possible final adoption on Aug. 5.