Larimer County says building official will be reposted; interim named and memorial set for inspector

Leslie Ellis, director of Community Planning, Infrastructure and Resources, and Rebecca Everett, Community Development director, told the Larimer County Board of County Commissioners at a Sept. 15 work session that the county will repost its county building official position after a scheduled retirement and will name an interim from current staff.

Rebecca Everett said the county has been preparing for the retirement of Eric Fried, who is due to retire at the end of the month, and “we will be reposting the job in the next couple weeks most likely with hopes to find a final candidate and have someone start maybe around the beginning of next year.” Everett said the department will name an interim building official from within the department once the paperwork is completed.

Why it matters: The building division handles plan reviews and inspections that affect construction timelines. Everett told commissioners the department expects to be short-staffed “probably until the end of the year in some form or another” and described contingency steps to limit customer impacts.

What the county plans to do: Everett said the division has temporary and part-time staff and a contractor who helps with plan reviews to supplement capacity. “We have some ways to help supplement our staff to try to ensure that the customers don't experience any delays or interruptions in that meantime,” she said. She added the timing coincides with the lull after the busy construction season, which may reduce near-term impacts.

Memorial for inspector: Everett also announced the death of a building inspector, Sam Scruggs, and said a celebration of life is scheduled for Oct. 5 from 1 to 4 p.m.; she said she would send the obituary and details to commissioners so others who knew him could attend.

Discussion vs. action: Commissioners asked how the board could support the department during the transition; Everett requested continued patience and noted the department believes it has what it needs for the next three to six months. No formal motions or votes were made at the meeting regarding hiring or staffing.

Next steps: The county will post the building official job in the coming weeks, appoint an interim official from within Community Development, and notify the commissioners when the interim appointment paperwork is finalized. The timeline given for a permanent hire is “maybe around the beginning of next year,” per Everett.

Ending: Commissioners expressed condolences and appreciation for staff work during the transition. The department will continue to update the board on staffing and customer service impacts as recruitment and interim assignments proceed.