Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Wright Board discusses revised bleacher laws



One of the good aspects of a government like we have in
the United States is when a law simply doesn’t work effectively, it can
be changed or rescinded.

Over the years, this self-correcting policy has allowed
several laws that were enacted with good intentions, but failed to be wiped
off the books.

This was the discussion at the May 9 meeting of the Wright
County Board, as the commissioners discussed a law revision that will end
up saving the county, as well as local governments, thousands of dollars.

During the 1999 State Legislative session, a law was adopted
requiring that all bleachers 30 inches tall or higher, which is almost all
bleachers sold, be equipped with floorboards, guardrails and/or safety nets.
The law was enacted as a response to a youngster dying after falling through
the gaps of a bleacher.

However, it was later learned that the cost of modifying
every bleacher in the state more than 30 inches high would be astronomical,
and something many counties, cities and organizations simply could not afford.

After receiving considerable negative pressure, the Legislature
has modified its policy, extending the height requirement for the changes
needed from 30 inches to 55 inches, but there is still some confusion as
to how the rule will apply – in the case of Wright County, at the fairgrounds
in Howard Lake, where the original modifications were expected to cost $80,000
or more to complete.

“Someone is going to have to take current law as it
stands and see what we have to do to comply,” County Purchasing Agent
Craig Hayes said. “As of right now, I’m not exactly sure what that
requirement will be.”

Commissioner Jack Russek said the new law will require
the bleacher modifications, as he has understood them, to begin at bleachers
higher than 55 inches from the ground – meaning that the entire bleacher
won’t need to have floorboards, just those portions that extend more than
55 inches from the ground.

It is expected that the new requirement will result in
several thousand dollars saved at the fairgrounds alone, as well as sparing
small groups and town bleachers that are 55 inches high or less – the standard
six-row bleachers – from paying untold thousands in modifications.

As part of the change in the law, the state added a year
on to the date of required compliance now set at Jan. 1, 2002. This will
give local governments an opportunity to assess the costs of making the
new changes and budget for them in the 2001 budget year. The board voted
unanimously to refer the matter to the Building Committee to obtain cost
figures and make a recommendation.

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