jar546
Forum Coordinator
SPEARFISH, South Dakota — Spearfish recently welcomed Riley Jones as its new Building Official, bringing a fresh perspective and a commitment to strengthening building code enforcement within the city. Riley Jones, who boasts a background as a former professional steer wrestler, has wasted no time in steering Spearfish toward a new era of building code compliance.
Jones arrives in Spearfish with an impressive record of municipal leadership in growing communities. His most recent role was as the Building Official in Walla Walla, Washington, where he served for seven years. "I stepped into that role after a 20-year tenure by my predecessor," Jones remarked, reflecting on his experience in a city of approximately 35,000 residents.
A by-the-book philosophy defines Jones's approach to his new role. "The paramount objective is to adhere 100 percent to the code book and city ordinances," he emphasized. Jones recognizes that while the goal is consistent across jurisdictions, the methods may vary. "Every jurisdiction is different," he acknowledged.
One of Jones's initial priorities is to establish clear and uniform standards in Western South Dakota and the Black Hills, ensuring that contractors encounter consistent regulations throughout the region. "I aim to engage with fellow building officials from neighboring jurisdictions to harmonize the enforcement of codes and timelines," Jones explained. This collaborative approach aims to prevent contractors from encountering inconsistencies in code enforcement practices.
Jones has also introduced an orange inspection card, outlining between 10 and 12 required inspections, depending on the nature of the project (commercial or residential). This card serves as a guide for the city's two inspectors, a significant increase from the approximately five required inspections that were previously in place.
It's important to note that Jones's changes do not constitute alterations to the building code itself. Instead, they reflect his dedication to safeguarding the city's interests in the face of rapid growth. Many newcomers to Spearfish are from states with stringent building codes, such as California, Washington, and Oregon. Jones sees his role as ensuring the city avoids potential legal issues. He cited shear inspections as an example. While Spearfish had performed these inspections previously, Jones observed variations in their execution compared to his previous experience.
Addressing contractor concerns about the time and effort required to meet new requirements, Jones emphasized his commitment to finding mutually agreeable solutions. "I am prepared to work with the city and contractors to devise efficient processes that benefit everyone," he assured.
Jones actively encourages an open-door policy with contractors, expressing his willingness to discuss the code book and interpretations one-on-one to facilitate collaboration. Clarity in code interpretation is a central tenet of his strategy.
Regarding plan reviews, Jones underscored the importance of having a comprehensive set of plans that can serve as a roadmap for future reference. This practice ensures that any potential issues can be addressed efficiently. In some cases, additional engineering may be required, incurring extra costs for contractors. Jones reassured that he would only request additional engineering when mandated by code and ordinance.
Discussing engineering requirements for decks, Jones emphasized that not all decks require engineering. He outlined the relevant sections of the code book to clarify the criteria. He underlined his commitment to working within the bounds of the code.
While Spearfish currently schedules inspections by phone, Jones plans to transition to an online scheduling platform to streamline the process. This change, however, has raised concerns among contractors about potential time losses and complexities. Jones recognizes that change, especially in a field where codes evolve every three years, can be met with resistance. He draws from his experience in Walla Walla, where it took three years for contractors and inspectors to fully embrace change. In the end, they appreciated the necessity of these adjustments.
Jones stressed that his ultimate goal is to protect the city, contractors, and homeowners. He emphasized his open-door policy and made his cell phone number available to contractors, underscoring his commitment to fostering collaboration and ensuring a quality product for all stakeholders.
Jones arrives in Spearfish with an impressive record of municipal leadership in growing communities. His most recent role was as the Building Official in Walla Walla, Washington, where he served for seven years. "I stepped into that role after a 20-year tenure by my predecessor," Jones remarked, reflecting on his experience in a city of approximately 35,000 residents.
A by-the-book philosophy defines Jones's approach to his new role. "The paramount objective is to adhere 100 percent to the code book and city ordinances," he emphasized. Jones recognizes that while the goal is consistent across jurisdictions, the methods may vary. "Every jurisdiction is different," he acknowledged.
One of Jones's initial priorities is to establish clear and uniform standards in Western South Dakota and the Black Hills, ensuring that contractors encounter consistent regulations throughout the region. "I aim to engage with fellow building officials from neighboring jurisdictions to harmonize the enforcement of codes and timelines," Jones explained. This collaborative approach aims to prevent contractors from encountering inconsistencies in code enforcement practices.
Jones has also introduced an orange inspection card, outlining between 10 and 12 required inspections, depending on the nature of the project (commercial or residential). This card serves as a guide for the city's two inspectors, a significant increase from the approximately five required inspections that were previously in place.
It's important to note that Jones's changes do not constitute alterations to the building code itself. Instead, they reflect his dedication to safeguarding the city's interests in the face of rapid growth. Many newcomers to Spearfish are from states with stringent building codes, such as California, Washington, and Oregon. Jones sees his role as ensuring the city avoids potential legal issues. He cited shear inspections as an example. While Spearfish had performed these inspections previously, Jones observed variations in their execution compared to his previous experience.
Addressing contractor concerns about the time and effort required to meet new requirements, Jones emphasized his commitment to finding mutually agreeable solutions. "I am prepared to work with the city and contractors to devise efficient processes that benefit everyone," he assured.
Jones actively encourages an open-door policy with contractors, expressing his willingness to discuss the code book and interpretations one-on-one to facilitate collaboration. Clarity in code interpretation is a central tenet of his strategy.
Regarding plan reviews, Jones underscored the importance of having a comprehensive set of plans that can serve as a roadmap for future reference. This practice ensures that any potential issues can be addressed efficiently. In some cases, additional engineering may be required, incurring extra costs for contractors. Jones reassured that he would only request additional engineering when mandated by code and ordinance.
Discussing engineering requirements for decks, Jones emphasized that not all decks require engineering. He outlined the relevant sections of the code book to clarify the criteria. He underlined his commitment to working within the bounds of the code.
While Spearfish currently schedules inspections by phone, Jones plans to transition to an online scheduling platform to streamline the process. This change, however, has raised concerns among contractors about potential time losses and complexities. Jones recognizes that change, especially in a field where codes evolve every three years, can be met with resistance. He draws from his experience in Walla Walla, where it took three years for contractors and inspectors to fully embrace change. In the end, they appreciated the necessity of these adjustments.
Jones stressed that his ultimate goal is to protect the city, contractors, and homeowners. He emphasized his open-door policy and made his cell phone number available to contractors, underscoring his commitment to fostering collaboration and ensuring a quality product for all stakeholders.
