7.1. SR 03-20-2006
City of Elk River
REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
Agenda Section Meeting Date
Administration 3/20/06
Item Description
Re uest for Buildin Division Tem ora Position
Item Number
7.1.
Prepared by
Scott Clark, Communi Dev. Director
Reviewed by
Lori ohnson, Ci Administrator
Introduction
This request is for consideration of hiring a temporary building official for a six-month period of
time, ranging from approximately April 15th to October 15th.
Discussion
Attached is a memorandum from Building Official Bob Ruprecht listing out the commercial and
industrial projects that will need inspection services during 2006. At this time, we anticipate up to
30 commercial and institutional buildings needing inspection services in addition to a residential
unit work load ranging from 275 - 350 single family and townhouse units. Due to this inordinate
amount of commercial and industrial construction, it is anticipated that a large amount of
overtime would be needed in order to maintain our existing service level. An alternative to
overtime, which produces a series of issues including how many hours would be mandatory,
fatigue and related items, staff is proposing is the hiring of a licensed building official for a six
month period of time equating to 1,040 hours of inspection time.
Financial Impact
Staff would propose that a temporary position would be paid $19.77 per hour (the beginning step
of a building official) and since this is a temporary position, would not be receiving benefits. The
hiring of a part time position was anticipated in the 2006 budget and a line item of $20,050 was
established. The total cost of the six month service would be $20,560. In addition, some overtime
may still be required from the building inspectors and it is anticipated that any overtime
expenditure costs will be neutralized by increased building permit revenues.
Attachments
. Memorandum dated March 8, 2006 from Bob Ruprecht, Building Official regarding"
Possible Hiring of New Building Inspector"
Action Requested
City Council to authorize the hiring of a temporary building official for six months at a cost not
to exceed $20,560.
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Scott Clark
FROM:
Bob Ruprecht
DATE:
March 8, 2006
SUBJECT:
Possible Hiring of New Building Inspector
This memo is to keep you informed of the number of projects that the Building Dept. has
both in progress, online and ready to begin, as well as projects that are projected to begin in
early summer.
The number of permits issued already this year has surpassed 2003 and 2004 which were
record years for our department.
The large projects already under construction and will continue are:
* Twin Lakes School
* Target Data Center
* Maxsun Furniture
* Handke School
* Classic Acrylics
* CDr
* Medical Extrusion Technology
* Menards
* Alliance Machine
* Elk River Fire Dept. Addition
* Briggs Office Building
* Waste Water Treatment Plant
We also have approximately 600 single-family and multiple-family building sites available for
construction this year.
..
There are a number of large projects with permits already issued or ready to be issued, for
which contractors are waiting to break ground. That includes:
* Plaisted Precast
* American National Bank
* Orono Commons
* Tractor Supply Store
* The Bluffs
* Jackson Place
* Quality Label
* The Bank of Elk River
The projects that are projected to come up early this summer include:
* Walgreens
* M&I Bank
* Elk River Ford
* Pearl Vision
* New Horizon Daycare
* F airview Clinic
* A data center
* A strip mall in Elk Ridge Center
* Briggs Property development
... along with a multitude of smaller commercial and residential jobs.
I am proposing to add a full-time temporary building inspector to help ease the workload
that has potential to be a record year for our department. Possible employment date would
potentially run from April 1 thru October 2006 with a pay range that would vary depending
on qualifications. We would need an old squad car for this position.
I propose moving Rebecca to Terry Maurer's old office. I would move into Steve Rohlf's
old office and the new person would be in myoid cube until the whole department
reorganizes and moves down to new cubes in the now open space.
I do have a couple names in mind as potential candidates for this position or it could be
opened up to advertising in either local or Minneapolis papers.
cc: Lori Johnson