
By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
After nearly a year-long journey of preparation, training and testing, the building inspector’s office has gotten verbal approval for expanded jurisdiction, enabling them to inspect and approve commercial buildings that previously would have to go to Frankfort for approval.
According to Thom Kendall, plan reviewer and level 3 building inspector, expanded jurisdiction decreases the time a developer, or builder, would have to wait between making the design plans and its approval.
“The big thing is turnaround,” Kendall said. “With the state sometimes you’re talking months waiting for approval. And not that we’re going to be able to give [an inspection] right back to you, I mean we want to do a good job, but you’re still only looking at maybe a week on some things.”
“What this does is, hopefully, streamlines a lot of those state jobs that have to go up there and sit in review for maybe a few months at a time,” Planning Director of the Joint City-County Planning Commission Kevin Myatt said during a June 30 interview. “It keeps it local so we can do the same review process as the state does, however the turnaround time is significantly shorter.”
Kendall said, although it was not the main incentive, it would also bring in money as well as commercial permit fees are generally more expensive — for example, Kendall said, a building permit charges roughly 15 cents a square foot.
“It’s not the main reason to do it but it’ll certainly help,” Kendall said.
The process of “getting the wheels turning” on expanded jurisdiction really began in the spring with the addition of a third building inspector, which is one of the minimum requirement to apply for expanded jurisdiction.
According to Kendall the first step of the process was a “3-inch-thick” application packet which was then followed a check on each of the inspector’s credentials — all three inspector’s have a level 3 distinction, the highest credential obtainable. The final step was taken by Kendall on Dec. 29 when he took an 11 hour “proctored plan review,” in which Frankfort sent Kendall a four-story hotel plan, something they would not normally inspect, for his review.
Roughly a month afterwards, Jan. 29, Kendall received verbal approval from the state. Though they have verbal confirmation they do not yet have the paperwork that would allow them to begin the work.
“[Frankfort] left it with ‘if you don’t get the letter in a couple weeks let them know,’” Kendall said. “I don’t expect to get it in a couple weeks…and we’re basing that on [the fact that] we’ve talked with some other building inspectors that have filed for it and it’s taken a few months.”
“We’re chomping at the bit,” Kendall added. “We want to hit it. I’m happy that we got it. I’m tickled to death.”
Comments