Business owners voice concerns about Knox Box ordinance

Business owners are pushing back against the borough's key lock box ordinance, which requires all places of business to have key lock boxes, commonly known as Knox Boxes, installed and accessible to emergency personnel. The ordinance was passed in December 2017 and gives business owners a year to comply.

Keena Watson

Keena Watson of Soukup Automotive on 7th Street voiced her concerns to borough council about the lock boxes at the July council meeting.

Watson told council that she believes the ordinance does away with her right to choose what is best for her business. "Putting a key on the outside of my building is taking away my right to decide who is able to access my building," she said. Watson questioned council about who will be accountable if a lock box key is stolen from a business. She cited an incident in Phoenix, Arizona in which 183 keys went missing and the city subsequently spent $50,000 to rekey all its boxes. She asked if the borough would be responsible for rekeying all the boxes if a similar event happened here, noting that, "If someone has a key, every box in the borough can be accessed by that single key." She noted that if emergency personnel need to break into her business, insurance will pay for a broken door, but not for the installation, rekeying, or maintenance of a lock box.

"There are a lot of issues I feel like we don't have answers for as business owners," Watson said. "And for something that we've poured our heart and souls in, there's a lot of vulnerability for us."

Watson said she has a petition with signatures of 37 local business owners and 12 concerned citizens opposed to the mandatory installation of Knox Boxes but added that some business owners refused to sign out of fear of retaliation from borough officials. "I feel that it is a sad day in Columbia Pennsylvania, in the United States, where a citizen can't stand up for what they believe in, because they're afraid of their government. I think that's sad," she said.

Dr. William Kraft

Dr. William Kraft, a Columbia chiropractor, also addressed council about the ordinance. Kraft's main concern was keeping medical records private and secure. He said his practice is governed by federal privacy laws. "A local ordinance is not going to supersede federal law," he told council and warned that a security breach is possible if a box is compromised. "That box, I'm telling you, is a ticking time bomb for professionals like myself," he said.

Kraft said he believes the requirement should instead be optional. He asked council for a show of hands on how many would put a box on their residences. About half of the council members raised their hands. "This ordinance was passed unanimously, but not everyone here on this council is willing to put one on their door," Kraft said.

Columbia Borough Fire Chief Doug Kemmerly weighed in on the issue HERE.

John Novak, chair of the legislative committee said the issue will be discussed further at the committee's next meeting, to be held Wednesday, August 8, at 6 p.m.