Opinion: The Rising Cost of Housing - Bay County Enforcing International Codes since 2010

1st issue: In 1971 I had just returned to Phoenix, Arizona from 2 years in the U.S. Army (draftee). I had returned to the same job I had before being drafted, hand-fabricating three eights inch rebar in residential concrete pools, commonly called rodbusting. We started at the steel yard at 3AM every day. It can reach 120 F. in August in the Valley of the Sun, so we started very early. 

One morning at about 5:30AM we arrived at a residence in Maricopa County outside of Phoenix City Limits. At that time, no permit was required. The excavators were about 1/3 of the way done with their phase.  The deep end bowl of the pool had been shaped and trimmed and was ready for the inground main-drain pipe to be placed. The plumbers had arrived and set to work while we were unloading the rebar.  As they finished burying the main-drain pipe we started installing the rebar at one foot on center, with a 6”x12” pattern through the deep end cove. This was all paid by piecework.  It was no advantage to any of us workers to stand around milking the clock as there was no clock to milk. The faster we worked the more we got paid. I won’t bore you with the details of the day.  That pool, which was close to 600 sq. ft. surface area; an inside area of around 1400 sq. ft.; and 3’ to 8.5’ finished depth, had the concrete in it and was starting to cure by days end. The excavation, plumbing, electric, rebar, and about 45 yds of hand-sculpted concrete had been installed in one day.  

That same amount of work, today, because of permits, codes, regulations, inspections… red tape, is now lucky to be accomplished in a month. Asking my search engine how much housing costs have risen due to codes and regulations from 1950 to present, I received the answer of not quite $94,000 average per home across the greater cities and counties in America. Government Regulation in the Price of a New Home 

I looked up the codes and permit process for Bay County and found that Bay County, as are most counties and cities in America, is now enforcing international codes and has been since about 2010: https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/building-codes-and-standards/faqs/  

“The Florida Building Code (Code) is based on the International Building Code, which is referred to as the “base code”.  Florida-specific amendments and supplements modify the base code to address issues specific to Florida.  The Florida Building Commission is required to update the Code every three years (Triennial Code Cycle) to incorporate proposed changes from industry and other interested parties and correct conflicts and omissions.  Detailed information on the Code development process can be accessed at:  http://www.floridabuilding.org/cm/cm_faq.aspx.”

This is the insidious effect of UN Agenda 21, and Agenda 2030.  The old saying “Time Is Money” has never been more true.  Here is at least one blatant, unarguable answer why the cost of housing in Bay County, indeed pretty much everywhere in this nation, has become prohibitive to the new married couples just starting out.  All this is completely outside our Constitution and an obvious infringement on property rights.  This is an issue that needs to be addressed immediately, if not sooner.

2nd issue: Bay County Commission voted to establish Bay County as a 2nd Amendment Sanctuary in 2020. I’m sure we are all pleased with this since it is apparent that we need to protect the rights of people that are enumerated in the 2nd Amendment. However, these issues deserve to be revisited.

The Second Amendment Sanctuary Resolution does not go far enough. We need to protect all of our God-given rights that are listed in the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, also called the “Bill of Rights.” These are not the only God-given Rights, but a few of the major ones.  Perhaps a better label than the “Bill of Rights” would’ve been “Restrictions on Government,” because it is a list of rights that the government cannot take away. The Bill of Rights does not grant us our rights. The Declaration of Independence states that men are “endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights” and “to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” Governments are created to secure and protect our rights, not take them away. This is especially important during emergencies.  

Therefore, I’m pleased to announce that there is a ground swell of support in local patriotic organizations who are poised to approach our Bay County Commissioners regarding a Bill of Rights Sanctuary Ordinance for Bay County. I hope we can all agree that, considering the political direction in which our federal government seems to be headed, Bay County government needs to honor the Supreme Law of our Land, and help stop federal overreach.

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