That’s what the proposed amendments to the city fire code seem to be designed to accomplish.

Or, maybe I should say that is an unintended consequence.

All new commercial and industrial construction would have to have automatic sprinklers.

All new townshouses with three or more units come under the changes, too. It doesn’t take a genius to suggest that such sprinklers would have make the fire in Harvard less dangerous Tuesday.

The only exemptions from sprinklers are for single family homes and duplexes.

And, adding more than 5,000 square feet to your business requires sprinklers, too.

In fact, put an addition on and a businessman may have to put sprinklers throughout his current building as well.

Converting apartments to condos.

Expect to have to install sprinklers.

Governments rarely take into account the business cycle.

Crystal Lake’s city council has just passed Mayor Aaron Shepley’s 75% sales tax increase.

It takes effect on July 1st, right before Independence Day.

Some might have thought that would have been enough of a disincentive for local business expansion.

But no.

Here’s another one.