5.8. SR 04-12-2004Item 5.8.
River
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Mayor and City Council
FROM:
DATE:
Stephen Rohlf, Building and Environmental Administrator
April 12, 2004
SUBJECT: Consider Building Inspection Intern
The Building and Environmental Department is requesting a six-month intern
position to assist with building inspections. Compared to this thne last ),ear, nearly 100
additional building permits have been pulled. 2003 was extremely bus)' for the Building
Department. If the pace so far this ),ear continues, the thne it takes to get a permit and
inspections will be unreasonable for our customers.
Although an intern will most likely not be a certified building inspector and will have to do
inspections under the Building Official's certification, staff will look for someone who has
been in the trades and is taking building inspection classes. There are plenty of more
mundane, but time consuming, inspections an intern could help with such as: re-roofing,
post footings for decks, sheds, detached garages, etc.
An internship seems to be a log/cal temporaU, solution. The position will end when things
slow down in the xvinter and, if there is a more permanent slow' down in building acfiviu', a
layoff is not of issue.
The State Building Code Division is encouraging internships. Most people loo ~king at
building inspection as a new' career need on-the-job experience to quali~, to take theh'
certification test. Staff feels a good intern can be found through local communiU, colleges
that have Building Inspection Technology programs and/or the 10,000 Lakes Chapter of
International Code Council, the only professional building inspector association in the metro
area of which Terry Zajac is President. Staff will not be advertising for this position, if
approved.
The Building Department purchased a new vehicle in 2004. Typically the Department's used
vehicles go to the Street Deparnnent, but this ),ear the), do not need the one that was
replaced. Staff will retain this vehicle for the intern position, if approved. Also there is an
empU, cubical the intern can use, as well as an unused desk and computer that is scheduled
to be replaced.