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INDIANAPOLIS | A philosophical dispute at the Statehouse over the role of the free market in setting pay rates for public construction projects could soon translate into smaller paychecks for thousands of Indiana building trades workers.

The Republican-controlled House Employment, Labor and Pensions Committee voted 8-4 on party lines Tuesday for House Bill 1019, which eliminates the common construction wage used for state and local government building projects worth more than $350,000.

State Rep. Jerry Torr, R-Carmel, the sponsor of the measure, believes it is wrong to have five-person boards made up of union and nonunion contractors, along with two local taxpayers decide how much each position on a public construction job should be paid.

"In my view, this sets up an artificial wage and I just think it's better for us to go to the free market," Torr said. "If the committee set a higher wage rate, then the workers on the job benefit but the taxpayers don't."

Torr estimated, based on the savings realized in other states that eliminated their prevailing wage laws, Indiana local governments could spend between 10-20 percent less by ditching the common construction wage.

"When we have local governments concerned about the property tax caps trying to save every dime they can and school districts clamoring for more money for public education, it would seem to make sense for us to go to the free market and let folks bid and have the best at the lowest price," Torr said.

Jason Horwitz, a public policy consultant at the Anderson Economic Group of Michigan, told the committee the total savings statewide likely only would be about $50 million, or 6 percent, and possibly less because Indiana already has such a high threshold for projects to use the common construction wage.

Nevertheless, Republican city councilmen from Fort Wayne and Terre Haute, and representatives from the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and the Associated Builders and Contractors trade association insisted it still is worth eliminating a system the state and local governments have used since 1935.

"Government should not be in the business of fixing prices and mandating wages," said J.R. Gaylor, president of ABC of Indiana and Kentucky. "The market should be the solution to that."

In response, nearly two dozen building contractors, representing billions of dollars in annual projects, each told the committee they want the common construction wage preserved.

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House panel OKs repeal of common construction wage

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A torch used to thaw frozen pipes has been blamed for starting a fire Monday in a three-unit apartment building in Brigden that left several people temporarily homeless, and caused damage estimated at between $250,000 and $300,000.

Walt Anderson, chief of the St. Clair Township Fire Department, said Brigden firefighters were called out at approximately 5:30 p.m. to the fire on Boswell Street.

"The landlord was thawing some pipes and the fire got into the walls," he said.

"With the type of construction, she just went up the walls and into the attic."

The shell of the building was still standing Tuesday, but "it's pretty well gutted," Anderson said.

"Apparently, it was an old creamery so the walls are like three-foot thick of brick. It's a pretty solid building."

Anderson said all of the building's tenants escaped safely, and are reported to be staying with family, or found other accommodations.

"Everybody is out of the cold."

Anderson said firefighters were told four people lived in one apartment, one person lived in a second, and the third unit was vacant.

"It was very stubborn to fight," Anderson said, with cold temperatures and ice adding to the challenge, but no firefighters were injured.

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Tenants escape burning building

The amount of snow on the roof of 600 Pennsylvania Ave., in the Liberty Place apartment complex in North Leominster, is measured. David Dore photoA building at the Liberty Place apartment complex was evacuated for a couple of hours Monday after residents called the Fire Department to report a creaking roof and cracks in the walls and ceilings.

Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Davis said the Fire Department was contacted around 11:30 a.m. Monday that someone at 600 Pennsylvania Ave. heard some creaks and thought they saw new cracks in the walls and ceilings. Liberty Place is located off Industrial Drive in North Leominster.

The Fire Department contacted the building inspector because we did have some concern, just with the cracks, Davis said.

A structural engineer brought in by building co-owner Peter Bovenzi and the building inspector checked out the building once it was evacuated, Davis said. They checked out the attic and the snow load on the roof, he said, and the engineer deemed it safe.

There was at most 12-13 inches of snow on the roof, Bovenzi said, and the construction of the building allows it to support three to four times that amount.

Asked about the cracks reported by residents, Bovenzi replied there were no cracks that he could see.

After almost a couple of hours, residents were allowed to return, according to Davis. In the meantime, a resident said, they either stayed with family or friends or went to the citys emergency shelter at Southeast Elementary School.

The several feet of snow that has fallen on southern New England in recent weeks has raised concerns about roof collapses, and caused several of them around the region. Davis said the Leominster Fire Department has gotten calls from people concerned about a roof collapse, but as of Monday there have been none in the city.

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Apartment building evacuated over roof concerns

IPSWICH City Council will waive building approval fees for Ipswich residents who claim to have been left out of pocket by Patios and Sheds Ipswich.

Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale said the actions of Patios and Sheds Ipswich on Warwick Road were dodgy, unethical and had taken advantage of hard-working, honest residents.

"Many customers had paid their building approval fees to Patios and Sheds Ipswich who instead of lodging building approvals with private certifiers or council, fled with the cash," Cr Pisasale said.

"While many people have been left without their sheds, offers of assistance have come from another shed company and council is happy to waive any building fees that they had paid to Patios and Sheds Ipswich, to help during this time of hardship."

Planning and Development Committee chairman Paul Tully urged the owner of Patios and Sheds Ipswich to give himself up and hand back the money he took from customers.

"His actions are disgusting, fraudulent and un-Australian and he should do the right thing by everyone."

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Council helps shed rip-off victims

THE Queensland Times has continued to field calls from Ipswich residents who claim to have been left out of pocket by Patios and Sheds Ipswich.

Another caller yesterday said they had paid a total of $18,500 to the company after ordering a large shed in September, 2013.

The amount included a $5000 deposit, $1600 for a concrete slab and $12,000 for a shed kit that never arrived.

This followed a call from a Yamanto couple who said they paid $25,000 for a dwelling shed that hasn't been properly certified.

Another Ipswich resident said he paid a $560 deposit, plus a separate invoice of $650 for a council application that was never submitted.

While the number of cases builds up and the Queensland Building and Construction Commission continues its investigations into the business activities of Paul DeBruin, the police are yet to take any action.

Ipswich district Inspector Keith McDonald yesterday called on anyone who felt they'd been ripped off by the shed company to make an official complaint to police.

Complaints regarding Patios and Sheds Ipswich can also be forwarded to the QBCC, phone 139 333 for more information.

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Police call for more shed complaints