Contracter: Quiet rule hurting local families

SPRING HILL The mix of bad weather and city restrictions has left many construction laborers in Spring Hill with few options to earn money needed for bills, groceries and other expenses.

Local contractor Randall Shaw said this winter has presented those in his industry with some of the worst weather and working conditions in his memory.

When its not wet its been extremely cold, which affects everything from bricklaying to painting to the interior work, Shaw said.

Currently, the city of Spring Hills peace and quiet ordinance prohibits erection, excavation, construction, demolition, alteration or repair of any building before 7 a.m. on Saturdays and prohibits any work on Sundays. Coupled with winter weather, Shaw said some contractors are running out of options and would rather pay city fines than put off work.

If you have had five bad weather days that week, Sunday may be the only decent day to get anything done, Shaw said. Sunday may be your only chance of getting a check for that month.

When basic construction work is delayed, Shaw said the entire process of building and even selling the home is delayed. He said incidents of bad weather can delay the construction process as long as two months.

You get this snowball effect, so it is not just the guys working outside who are affected, Shaw said. The guys doing the inside work like carpeting and painting cannot get started on time and will be out of work. Then the real estate agent has to put off selling the house, and if they dont sell it, we as contractors dont get a check.

During Tuesdays Board of Mayor and Alderman work session, Alderman Chad Whittenburg said some residents many of whom work in the construction industry had approached him regarding the citys prohibition of construction on Sundays as part of the citys peace and quiet ordinance.

Laborers told Whittenburg they would rather pay the $50 city fine for working on Sundays than risk not being able to feed their families.

What I dont feel the city should do is impact a certain segment of the community from earning a daily wage, Whittenburg said. Im in favor of property rights, but when it infringes upon someones ability to earn a living, to provide for their family and put food on the table I get even more sensitive. That is exactly what is occurring.

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Contracter: Quiet rule hurting local families