PORTAGE | The City Council this week approved revamping the city's fire prevention code, which will hit the pocketbooks of repeated offenders.

Fire Chief Bill Lundy said he wanted to specifically affect those who are not taking responsibility for following the city's fire codes with the code's changes.

"We don't want to affect people who are following the rules," he said.

The amended code adds several fees and fines.

Those who violate any provision of the code and do not remedy the violations within a designated time frame now will face a fee of $25 per violation for each day beyond the deadline.

Previously, there were no fines, said Lundy.

"This adds teeth to the ordinance by adding the fines," he said.

Fines for repeated false alarms will be increased. Presently and in the future, the first two false alarms will yield no fine. Presently the fine for the third or more false alarms was $25. That will go up to $100 for the third and fourth false alarm and $500 for the fifth or more false alarms.

All the fees or fines collected from violations will go into the city's general fund.

Another new fee will see its proceeds go to the fire prevention gift fund. The ordinance adds a $25 plan review fee submitted to the Fire Department and city building department. The review fee would be assessed on any new construction or modification of a commercial or public building.

The ordinance also added a special inspection fee section. Fees will be $100 for inspecting a fireworks stand or outdoor carnival, $30 for outdoor assembly tents and $200 for emergency after-hours inspections/testing.

Lundy said these inspection fees were added because there are outside businesses making money off of Portage residents. Inspections of such facilities is presently free of charge and the department believes such businesses should pay for the services.

There are other minor changes to the ordinance, including requiring owners of private water distribution systems to notify the city of work to the system. Lundy said many of the mobile home parks in the city have privately owned systems. It also lengthens the required time of notification from 16 to 24 hours before interruption.

The amendments also require obstructions be at least 5 feet from any fire hydrant. The previous ordinance required only a 3-foot clear space.

The amendments will become effective 30 days after the ordinance is legally published.