Construction inspections in the village will still be done by the state, while village officials continue to ponder alternatives.
Lake Orion Village Manager JoAnn Van Tassel recommended at the March 24 council meeting that the village either contract with or join the Construction Code Authority based in Lapeer.
The Construction Code Authority is a municipal agency, first established in 1980 and owned by townships, cities and villages.
Funding is entirely through user fees. These fees include permit fees paid by the applicants as well as services contracted by various municipalities, such as zoning enforcement.. CCA is governed by a five member board of directors, elected annually.
It currently services 28 communities.
State employees have been doing inspections for the village for the last several years. Van Tassel has become dissatisfied with the system, saying inspectors don’t enforce the village’s zoning ordinances.
Over the last six months, Van Tassel has advertized for independent building trade inspectors to perform the services.
She has also contacted Orion Township to possibly contract with its building department again.
Van Tassel told council members that township supervisor Jerry Dywasuk, again indicated he would be willing to discuss it, but not until budget talks begin later this year.
“He also indicated the township building department was short handed and wasn’t sure it wanted to take on additional work,” she added.
Councilman Tom Albert didn’t agree with Van Tassel. “I’ve talked to Jerry and the door’s not closed on doing inspections. He says the building department is getting back up to full staff,” he said. “When they did inspections, they did a great job.”
If the village would hire independent inspectors or contract with the township, it would have to set up a separate fund for the administration and enforcement of the State Construction Code.
One of the biggest advantages having CCA do inspections, according to Van Tassel, is the agency would handle all of the paperwork and a separate fund for the village would not be necessary.
James Hershberger, CCA building official, told council members they would receive monthly reports on inspection work.
CCA would provide 24 hour turn-a-round time on building, plumbing, mechanical and electrical inspections Monday through Friday.
“An individual will be here when you need him,” he said. “We have 11 field inspectors going out every day.”
The village could also contract for such services as zoning ordinance administration, housing/rental inspections and general ordinance enforcement. CCA also has its own attorney.
Council members were hesitant to commit to CCA at the meeting. They weren’t given any fee schedule. Hershberger assured them it was similar to the state’s.
“We could do a month to month contract. If you want to set up a committee, I’ll come and answer all your questions,” he added.
Councilman Douglas Dendel suggested Van Tassel contact state and township officials again. He would like to see a state employee come to a council meeting and explain why there are problems with enforcing the village’s ordinances.
And he wants at least a written response from the township as to its intentions and what the costs would be for the village to use township inspectors.
Attorney Gary suggested council members decide the scope of inspections they would like to have done and bring their ideas back to the next council meeting.