A new city ordinance has some local bar owners up in arms.
Fire Marshal Todd Weathers presented a proposal to members of the city council earlier this year requiring that all nightclub owners who have entertainment systems inside their establishments install a shunt, or a device that automatically shuts off the music when a fire alarm goes off. With approximately 20 bars in Columbus, the business owners have until March to install the device. If they fail to do so, they risk being shut down by the fire marshal.
The ordinance is only applicable to nightclubs, a fact which has some local bar owners upset.
Doug Pellum, owner of downtown restaurant and bar Zachary’s, questioned why the law only applies to nightlife.
“We’re not worried about the safety of people in churches and restaurants?” he asked.
Bob Edison, owner of The Office Sports Bar, said he doesn’t think the ordinance applies to him because he doesn’t consider himself a nightclub.
“All I’ve got is a jukebox,” said Edison, who acknowledged that he does have live bands occasionally.
However, Weathers said the ordinance applies to all who are “enjoying nightlife,” which includes both Zachary’s and The Office Sports Bar.
When he learned that the ordinance applied to all types of entertainment and not just live music, Pellum promised resistance.
“If it’s any type of music, we’re going to have to fight this,” he said.
When he thought the ordinance only pertained to bars with live music or bands, Pellum said he had originally considered not having live music at all. However, hosting live music is part of what sets Zachary’s apart from other establishments.
“If I quit playing music, I’m just like Applebee’s,” Pellum said. ” I’m a restaurant that has a bar.”
Edison, who has owned The Office for 27 years, said he feels the city is off-base with the ordinance.
“They are causing extra burdens on people that are trying to make a living,” he said. “If you’re going to go after someone, go after someone who is breaking the law, not someone who is trying to abide by it.”
While the actual shunt itself is under $30, Edison said it’s expensive to install. Pellum is under the same impression. Pellum stated that he thought the shunt installation and price were related to the size of the building. With over 4,000 square feet, he said installing a shunt would be quite expensive. However, Pellum said he plans to look into the cost, saying, “If it’s a $25 switch, we’ll put it in today.”
Weathers maintains that the shunt costs around $20.
“We tried to keep it as inexpensive and business-friendly as possible and still maintain the level of safety that we’re trying to achieve,” Weathers said.
The fire marshal said he decided to approach the city council after watching a video from the infamous 2003 Station nightclub fire in Rhode Island. The deadly fire claimed the lives of 100 people and injured 230. Weathers said in the video you can clearly see a man trying to help drag someone to safety. Moments later, you see the same man walking away in flames.
The fire occurred when a band set off pyrotechnics inside the small club. Weathers said with a shunt, that type of disaster could be avoided. If a fire alarm goes off while music is playing, the shunt automatically kills the feed, silencing all other electric devices.
Edison said he will look into the device but isn’t enthusiastic.
“I’m 76 years old,” he said. “I’m tired of being picked on.”
Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.
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