SCBC postpones decision for outsourcing building inspection and permitting services

The Stephens County Board of Commissioners recently postponed a decision to award or deny the building inspection and permitting services bid.

During the Commission meeting last week, County Administrator Phyllis Ayers explained that after several discussions the county is looking to outsource its building inspection and permitting process.

She says they received bids; but, noted that the cost is substantially higher than what they currently spend doing it in-house.

She adds that there is also an issue with the current building inspector not being able to inspect commercial properties.

“We wrote an RFP to change building inspections and to outsource the inhouse building permit process—certificate of occupancy—and we found out its way more expensive than what we do inhouse. We have talked about this, I’ve sent you some information by email, our current residential building inspector cannot do the commercial, so we’ll have to have somebody else to do the commercial with her. But this will be an increase in cost if we go with any of these vendors, which, means you might want to consider increasing your building permit fees, we’re already at a loss with our building permit fees. So, it’s really up to you on the direction you want to go in, we can change it accordingly,” Ayers said.

Commissioner Michelle Ivester asked if they could postpone the decision until after the budgeting planning session, which is going on this week.

“Can we discuss it, or are we going to discuss it next week at our Budget Retreat,” Ivester asked?

“Postpone it and discuss it next week,” Ayers confirmed.

“I’d like to,” Ivester said.

“Sure,” Ayers said.

A motion to postpone making a decision was made by Ivester with Vice Chair Dennis Bell seconding the motion.

The motion was approved 4-0 with Commissioner Debbie Whitlock being absent.

The Commission is expected to discuss how to proceed during this week’s Budget Planning Session going on now in the Toccoa-Stephens County Airport Conference Room.