City targets apartment fire risks

Returning to the subject of fire safety in apartment buildings, the Sandy Springs City Council has updated its ordinances to require fire extinguishers in every unit and fire-suppression devices in every kitchen, in buildings without working sprinkler systems.

The city also will require fire-resistant paint for exposed and unprotected interior wood in such buildings, including attic areas; rapid-entry systems for emergency responders at all gated communities, and annual testing of private fire hydrants by certified hydrant contractors.

This summer, Sandy Springs banned wood-framed construction for future buildings taller than three stories and larger than 100,000 square feet.

Information: bit.ly/2gGQ3oi 2012 and 2013 models in fair condition, according to a county surplus property transfer form.

The county also approved giving 91 sections of 50-foot fire hoses, sized from 1¾ to 2½ inches in diameter, as well as nine nozzles to the Iron City Volunteer Fire Department. Some of the equipment predates 1999, and the gear is in fair condition.

City to spend $137,900 on downtown sculptures

The Alpharetta City Council has approved spending $137,900 for five original pieces of outdoor art as part of the 2016 Downtown Sculpture Project, “Instruments of Appreciation.”

The city is acquiring works of Greggory Johnson, Yaoundé Odeleye, Sirlin Arts, Dillon Forge and Outdoor Art. The pieces represent musical instruments or an artist’s representation of a music instrument “to communicate and encourage the spirit of the emerging music scene” downtown, according to a staff summary of the Council agenda item.

The city received 23 entries. A committee evaluated them for creativity, quality, elements of design, public interaction and response to site/context and recommended five to be acquired. Two, made of durable metals, can be played as percussion instruments. “The pieces selected range from the traditional to the modern and cover a broad range of musical forms,” the summary said.

The sculptures are to be installed along Roswell, Old Roswell and Main streets.