Christian County to provide building-inspection services to Billings under intergovernmental agreement

Christian County commissioners approved an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) for the county to provide building-inspection services to the City of Billings, with a projected start date of Oct. 1 and a three-year term that renews annually unless removed.

Resource management staff said the county had met with Billings officials and that the Billings Board of Aldermen had already voted to proceed. Staff noted Billings struggled to retain a full-time building inspector and that the county will add an inspector who is expected to start in about 10 days. "If they do a major subdivision where we have to run somebody out there, then we would be collecting those fees here, which would more than cover the cost," staff said in describing the financial rationale.

Commissioners approved the IGA by voice vote and said the arrangement should provide continuity and consistent inspections for the city and county residents; staff will finalize implementation and scheduling details.