Item R01
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: November 18.2009
Division: _BOCC
Bulk Item: Yes
NO--1L
Department:
George Neugent
Staff Contact PersonlPhone #: T. Marble 4512
AGENDA ITEM WORDING:
Discussion ofFEMA Inspection Program procedures at point of sale of residential and commercial
properties and providing a certificate of occupancy for the validity of a dO\\-TIstairs enclosure.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
TOT AL COST:
INDIRECT COST:
BUDGETED: Yes _No
DIFFERENTIAL OF LOCAL PREFERENCE:
COST TO COUNTY:
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes
No
AMOUNT PER MONTH_ Year
APPROVED BY: County Atty _ OMBlPurchasing _ Risk Management_
DOCUMENT A nON:
Included ~
Not Required_
DISPOSITION:
AGENDA ITEM #
Revised 7/09
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October 18, 2009
Dear Mayor Neugent,
I am writing to you today about my experience with the Pilot Program., in regard to
downstairs enclosures. I just received my letter of compliance from Dianne Bair at the
county after 15 months of living on an emotional roller coaster. I am not sure if I
received my letter to inspect my downstairs because of pulling a permit (which I do for
EVERY project) or because it was "my time" due to my house being built in 1990, but
when I received it, the nightmare began.
My code enforcement inspector Kerri Walbroehl was nothing but professional and
courteous. She could tell we were never told portions of our pennitted enclosure were
illegal because when we bought our home in November 2003, we were not told by a
realtor and/or NEVER INSPECTED BY THE COUNTY EVEN THOUGH THE PILOT
PROGRAM BEGAN IN 2002!!!!! When we received our letter from Dianne Bairabout
what was "illegal" and what to do to "fix" the issues, we started the process of asking
MANY questions and paying our fees for our demolition permit. Dianne Bair always got
back to us immediately with questions. My problem with this part of the inspection is
that people are treated like contractors and Ms. Bair and some at the building department
asswne we know the codes of compliance and how to reach them. When the $300 fee to
inspect the premises is paid at the building department. the employees should be required
to hand out the codes of compliance for below flood level areas. This should be part of
the process. If it wasn't for... at the Stock Island building department, I would have
pulled my hair out!
When we applied for our demolition permit and paid $350 for THIS part of the
process, we should have been given not just the building and plumbing changes, but also
the electrical changes. Needless to say we failed the electrical inspection the first time
around because we had no knowledge of the problems to fix because everyone
"asswned" we as everyday people know what we were doing. All 3 inspectors, Mike
with building, Corey with plumbing and Mike with electrical were all very pleasant and
helpful.
My headaches with this entire nightmare include the following:
1. The fees for the inspection and demolition permit are outrageous! $300 for the County
to inspect and $350 to demolish the enclosure just in feesl We were lucky we could
demo the areas ourselves, but still paid hWl<lreds of dollars for dump fees and costs at
Home Depot.
2. People should be treated, not as contractors with knowledge of the process, but rather
as ordinary people when they receive their letter of non -compliance and apply for
permits. A copy of all codes should be given to each person.
3. WHERE WAS THE COUNTY WHEN WE BOUGHT OUR HOME IN
NOVEMBER2003? mE PILOT PROGRAM STARTED IN 2002!!!!1 THE COUNTY
IS SUPPOSED TO INSPECT EACH HOME WITH AN ENCLOSURE AT TIlE TIME
OF SALE SO WHERE WERE YOU? WE COULD HAVE PREVENTED TillS
ENTIRE NIGHTMARE IF YOU DID THE INSPECTION WHEN YOU WERE
SUPPOSED TO AT THE TIME OF SALE!
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. I only hope that changes can be
made and inspections can take place, when they are supposed to, so that others do not
have to experience our frustrations.
K:w-.A.L.-J
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