Permits and evasive answers...

Here's a side rant for everyone.  Depending on where you live or what you do for a living you may find it interesting or aggravating.

If you haven't seen the article in the paper, take a look what permits in the county are running recently.  Absolute insanity.  I've heard that the article wasn't completely accurate, but anything close is still crazy.  Permit costs have exploded.  Something like $400 to have a guy come out and make sure your footings are deep enough, even if you don't have power or water.  Plain stick building with zero utilities. 

Want a deck or patio?  Be prepared to fork over the money.  Tricks around it?  Instead of a wood deck, build up the dirt, boulder around it, compact, flagstone.  Voila, you have a patio without needing a permit.

That isn't my point though.  Contractors are being forced to spend hundreds of dollars - which means you're spending hundreds of dollars - to be double checked by someone that is as or less qualified as they are.  I'm not saying Joe Blow should be allowed to build a house with no regulations, but most certified contractors knows as much or more than many inspectors.  If he doesn't follow the rules, he'll be out of referrals, and business, before long.

Here's the main gripe.  Number one - WAAAAY too expensive.  Number two - 3/4 of the money is going to a company in California.  Number three - Senile geezer on the Board of Supervisors doesn't understand why it's a problem.

If you weren't at the meeting with the supervisors it went something like this:  (Some poetic license taken)

Contractor:  "These permits are way too expensive, I'm already certified, and why is the money not staying in county?"

Supervisor:  "Do you not agree with zoning?  Do you not agree with safety standards?"

Contractor:  "This isn't about zoning or safety standards, it's about permit costs.  Why is it so expensive, yet so little of the money is going to the county?"

Supervisor:  "Zoning meetings were held, none of you came.  Are you against safety?"

Contractor:  "Good God!  This isn't about zoning or safety.  We understand the need for permits.  We're saying they're WAAY too expensive.  Cut them in half and keep the money here.  You'll make more money, we don't have to charge as much and we all come out ahead."

Supervisor:  "Do you not want people to be safe?  Zoning....  I had a bad contractor once..."

Contractor:  "Really?  Do you even hear what I'm saying?  Too expensive.  Money going somewhere else!"

Supervisor:  "Back in 1812, I could buy a dime for a quarter....  zzzzz."

Contractor:  "HELLOOOOOO!"

Supervisor:  "Whaaa?  Meeting adjourned."

Sadly enough, that is pretty much it in a nut-shell.  Outside of the 1812 reference, it's pretty close to accurate. 

You may believe I'm pro-contractor and anti-people.  Here's the deal.  Contractor pays less = You pay less.  County charges less but keeps the money = County makes more money.  I'd say that is pro-everyone.

When elected officials can't see that, it's time for them to get out of the way.  When they have a blank stare on their face, they need to abandon ship! 

Too subtle?

Anyway those were my original thoughts.  After some researching, which answered all the questions that the supervisors so expertly evaded, the main issue seems to be money.  Surprise!  The balance of employing a county employee to do the work, or outsourcing the work and giving them 3/4 of the money brought in.  Okay.  I haven't seen the break down of employee versus outsourcing so I can't make a definitive statement on whether it is 'right' or not.  Here's my thought.

If the county doesn't want to hire someone, than they put together a list of acceptable inspectors.  You get a certification from them, bring it to the courthouse, and you're done.  No cost to the county outside of paperwork.  No need to outsource a job that others are willing to do locally.

Seem too simple?  That's common sense for ya.



Oh yeah, and did I mention 90 of the 99 counties just follow what the state says?  Seems to me that we're trying to protect the inept from themselves.  The other side note...  The only two examples the supervisors brought up as reason for this change in policy.  Septic lawsuit and a house that is falling in.

Both are DIRECTLY linked to the 'great man' over in the neighboring town.  Think cutting corners and passing the buck doesn't hurt anyone Jim?  Take a look at what your permits cost now.