Green Bay to reduce fire inspections to save money

GREEN BAY (AP) — Green Bay Fire Department officials are preparing to reduce inspections on 3,000 buildings with good safety records to save money.

The Green Bay Press-Gazette reports the plan is to reduce inspections from twice a year to once a year for some commercial buildings and some large apartment and condominium buildings.

The change is scheduled to start Jan. 1. Officials say it will both save money and allow the department to pay more attention to high risk properties.

Fire Chief Jeff Roemer says he's confident the change will not harm fire safety.

Some in town are not so sure. Tom Binish is general manager of a safety consulting firm. He says the city shouldn't reduce inspections without requiring owners to do private inspections.

The City Council approved the change Nov. 3.

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