The Mount Clemens City Commission approved a package of inspection-service agreements for the 2021 fiscal year on June 1.
Motions and roll calls authorized the city to enter an agreement with Matthew M. Berman to provide building official, building inspection and mechanical inspection services for FY2021; Fusion Electric Inc. to provide electrical inspection services; Joseph A. Orr to provide plumbing inspection services; and Michael L. Farren to provide rental inspection services.
Several commissioners raised the recurring concern that inspection services are not routinely available evenings or weekends, which can burden residents and contractors who work during daytime hours. Staff said the inspectors are independent contractors and the city cannot unilaterally set their schedules; they agreed to explore demand for after-hours inspections and to track requests that might be satisfied in future agreements or by converting inspectors to city employees.
Staff also said inspections continued in a limited fashion during the COVID-19-related shutdown (e.g., for hospital work and fire-damaged properties) and that inspection services resumed more broadly about two weeks before the meeting as construction restrictions eased.
Next steps: staff will explore demand for after-hours inspections, consider options for tracking requests and report any viable changes back to commissioners.