---
title: City Officials Drop The Ball On RRP Rule. Will City Be Fined?
description: On-line news web site provides a very in-depth report about RRP violations on city financed and managed renovation projects
image: https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-15730884-jpg/images/bill_bielefeldt-wr.jpg
---

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# Welcome to RRPedia Your Interactive Resource for EPA RRP Information

## ![RRPedia logo](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-1549005086-jpg/images/RRPedia_Logosmall_-wr-1.jpg)Looking for accurate information about the EPA RRP rule?

RRPedia has been created by Shawn McCadden to help remodelers and others affected by the New EPA Renovation Repair and Painting Rule. 

## Please read *[RRPedia Use and Contribution Information](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/using-and-contributing-to-rrpedia-/) *before using or contributing to RRPedia.

 

---

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## [City Officials Drop The Ball On RRP Rule. Will City Be Fined?](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/rrpedia/bid/46962/City-Officials-Drop-The-Ball-On-RRP-Rule-Will-City-Be-Fined)

Posted by [Shawn McCadden](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/rrpedia/author/shawn-mccadden) on Thu, Sep 23, 2010 @ 09:22 AM

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## City Officials Drop The Ball On RRP Rule.  Will City of Racine WI Be Fined?

In a [September 20, 2010 article by the Racine Post ](http://news.racinepost.com/2010/09/racine-housing-program-creating-lead.html)in Wisconsin, the on-line news web site provides a very in-depth report about RRP violations on city financed and managed renovation projects.   The article serves to demonstrate and validate the challenges law abiding and conscientious businesses have when trying to work within the RRP rule.  A combination of illegally operating contractor competition as well as ineffective, under-funded and or non-existent enforcement has made earning a living challenging for legitimate business owners as well as the employees who work for these businesses.

Wisconsin is one of the states that has assumed administration and enforcement of the EPA RRP Rule.  The article reports that Bill Bielefeldt alerted the Wisconsin State Department of Health Services about unsafe lead practices on city-owned homes.  Racine's Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) is designed to renovate and sell rundown homes in foreclosure. The article includes a photo gallery of pictures showing a variety of violations at the projects being managed by the city.

![Bill Bielefeldt](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-15730884-jpg/images/bill_bielefeldt-wr.jpg)  
Bill Bielefeldt is a housing technician for the city of Racine. He received an award from the Wisconsin Rental Housing Legislative Council for his work on lead-safe practices. (Photo by [Racine Post](http://news.racinepost.com/))

Bielefeldt claims the city program meant to improve neighborhoods may be endangering children.  ***"It's embarrassing that the city isn't following its own rules and concerns", ***Bielefeldt said.  ***"I would be just as much at fault as they are if I didn't report that," ***he said. ***"I didn't just go blindside them. I told them about this, and they chose not to do anything."***

Now, the city is facing major violations for creating potentially hazardous conditions. The city's response to Bielefeldt?  The Racine Post reports the city sent two uniformed police officers to Bielefeldt's Mount Pleasant home just before midnight on Sept. 17 to deliver a letter saying Bielefeldt was prohibited from all of the city's NSP sites.

Here's the letter the city delivered to Bielefeldt just before midnight:

*Mr. Bielefeldt;                                                *  
*It has come to my attention that you have been on city-owned property without authorization.  Pursuant to your suspension of employment beginning September 10, 2010, you have been relieved of your duties as a Housing Technician as of that date.  Be advised that You are not to enter any city-owned property under the control of this department, including but certainly not limited to any homes that are now or are in the future in the Neighborhood **Stabilization Program.*

*Further, you are not to contact any property owners participating in the city's loan program or any related programs, such as downpayment assistance, and you shall not represent yourself as a current City of Racine employee during the course of your suspension and/or upon termination.  As was said to you on September 10, 2010, any requests for information from this department must be made directly to me for response.*

* Failure to comply will result in the city seeking all civil and criminal remedies available to it.*  
*                                                                                                                                             *  
* Signed,*  
*     *  
* Brian F. O'Connell*  
* Director of City Development*

------------

I predict we will hear many more stories similar to this one as more contractors become frustrated with illegal completion and the public becomes aware of the dangers of lead paint as well as how the RRP rule will affect them and renovations at their homes.  
 

 Topics: [Shawn's Predictions](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/rrpedia/topic/shawn39s-predictions), [Authorized States](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/rrpedia/topic/authorized-states), [Enforcement and Inspections](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/rrpedia/topic/enforcement-and-inspections), [Violation Reports](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/rrpedia/topic/violation-reports)

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### I just wanted to say thank you for your efforts to keep us informed. 

*"Thank you again for the hundreth time for keeping a vigil on this business nightmare. Your site is one of the best resources we have to stay on level ground"* 

**Christian Peter**

 

*"I am quite impressed with all the confusion out there at Shawn McCadden’s clear and concise voice that continues to help contractors and those involved in this industry truly understand the rule. His efforts should be applauded."* 

**Christopher Wagner, LBPFiles**

 

*"RRPedia is an accurate and contractor friendly interpretation of the very complex and confusing EPA RRP rule"*

* *

*"Thanks for taking the time to write the blog.  It's about the only place one can go to get some serious info on this dreadful subject"*

 

*"I would like to begin by thanking Shawn for all of his postings and education that he has been sharing with the remodeling industry. He has personally been extremely helpful in guiding me through various interpretations of the RRP rule, his advice and knowledge are priceless."*

**Michael A. Mahoney***  
*

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### Want a Simple Summary of the EPA RRP?

#### Shawn McCadden has created an EPA RRP Summary for Remodelers.

*"Hi Shawn, **Nice RRP write up on the website.   I've already forwarded a link to it to a number of local builder types."*  

#### [Click here to go to the summary.](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/epa-rrp-summary-for-remodelers-by-shawn-mccadden/)  You can also download it if you want your own copy.

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