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Mr. Robert Graves, Chairman -2- October 1966 sons most closely connected with the reconstruction and repair of build- ings that have been damaged or destroyed by fire, weather or other con- ditions which could have been eliminated and, in some instances the damage reduced to a great extent, had there been certain building practices set forth and supervised by the bounty government. As was stated earlier in this letter, we are aware of the recent publicity in the newspapers;. and there appears that there is no dissenting voice insofar as the need for a cdunty wide building code is concerned, however, the advocates of the building code have offered no specific guide- lines or concrete proposals to the county and its citizens. Without appear- ing to be presumptuous, we would offer the following as a basis for con- sideration as a start toward a building code: 1. Inasmuch as the City of Vero Beach and the City of Sebastian have building codes and supervision in effect, we would submit that any county wide building code exempt these two municipalities and any other municipalities which, in the future, desire to adopt a building code that would not fall below the minimum requirements of the county code, if and when one is adopted by our county. 2. That certain agricultural buildings and construction be exempted from the building code. The members of the construction trades of Indian River County are well aware that buildings used in connection with the agricultural industry (agricultural is meant to include all phases of citrus, dairy and other generally recognized agricultural pursuits) are unique and vary greatly according to the individual, whether it be a person, partner- ship or corporation, and the particular needs of each and the requirements • necessary to each. We are also well aware that, although cumulatively we may possess a vast knowledge of the building industry, we do not presume to assert that we would be in a position to have knowledge, insofar as the indi- vidual needs of everyone engaged in the agricultural industry is concerned. Thus it will be seen that we would confine ourselves to residential and com- mercial buildings throughout the county. 3. We are also cognizant of the fact that generally speaking, in areas outside of the county, the need for an extremely strict, and what, in some cases might appear to be unreasonable, fire code, within the building code, is not necessary insofar as the close proximity of buildings one to the other is not present, and consequently buildings, generally speaking, could be of frame or masonry or a combination of both and still conform with good sound building practices. This could be accomplished and is necessary inasmuch as the type of construction throughout the county would vary according to .each individual, his aesthetic tastes and desires. '65S BOOK 10 PAGE 54