Scott County APC asks staff to revise building-inspection fees after presentation on travel and workload

Scott County building-related staff told the Advisory Plan Commission on Jan. 14 that current fees do not reflect inspection workload and travel time in a largely rural county, prompting the commission to ask staff to draft revisions.

Ben (building commission staff) said a typical single-family house requires about four to six inspections, more when there is a slab or basement, and described several long out-of-town trips for inspections. Using a recent example, he said the building-commission portion of the fee for five or six inspections was $70 while the APC portion showed $2.20 on the sample packet, a split commissioners said felt too low relative to the actual time and fuel costs. "For that 5 to 6 inspections is only $70," Ben said.

Commissioners asked Ben to prepare recommended fee changes that account for trip frequency and square footage tiers; Stacy Turner was asked to prepare the APC-side fee recommendations. The board agreed to hold a workshop in February so members could review proposed changes and, if ready, place an ordinance before the county commissioners in March. Commissioners also discussed a permit disclaimer allowing additional invoicing if actual inspections exceed the initial plan.