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SAWHORSE
Private inspector working for Hillsborough misses serious code violations
County issues "Stop Work" order, doesn't want inspector back.
By Steve Andrews July 23, 2015
http://wfla.com/2015/07/23/private-inspector-working-for-hillsborough-misses-serious-code-violations/
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL (WFLA) – A private building inspector, paid by Hillsborough county, missed serious code violations on an Apollo Beach remodel job. The code violations were so serious, the county issued a “Stop Work” order. 8 On Your Side confirmed a private inspector, working for a company hired by Hillsborough county, somehow overlooked the fact that more work was underway at the home than the permit allowed.
“What the proper procedure we would have liked is for him to call back to the office and said, “Hey I came out to look at these windows and doors, and they’re adding walls, they’re moving walls,” Hillsborough county’s new Building Official Mike Rimoldi said. The county is paying three companies between $54 and $58 dollars an hour for private inspectors to assist county building inspectors with a heavy load.
The three contracts total more than $530,000 dollars a year. With benefits included, Hillsborough’s highest paid building inspector earns about $42 dollars an hour. So how did a private inspector miss renovations going on outside the scope of the permit that was issued? “I don’t know that he missed it. We would have appreciated it if he would have called up and said, “Hey I see additional work there, and that’s one of the things we’re trying to work through,” Rimoldi added.
The homeowner contacted the county because he was concerned about the workmanship on the project. Rimoldi explained, the building department then sent out one of its senior inspectors to check things out. “Come to find out there was additional work being done there that wasn’t within the parameters of that original permit,” he said. That’s important because plans to build or remove walls must be reviewed and approved to ensure a building’s integrity. The county issued a “Stop Work” order.
“The inspector’s job is to compare the plans with the work being completed and ensure that the work matches the plan,” Greg Yantorno, the president of the Building Officials Association of Florida stated. Concerns about private inspectors were raised at a June 25th meeting between county building inspectors and Hillsborough county Development Services director Adam Gormly
Notes of the meeting obtained by 8 On Your Side state, “Private providers not effective and missing sasfety issues. Suggestions-hiring retired inspectors part time.” Rimoldi says sending out of of its senior inspectors was redundant, it cost the county time and money. The County does not want the inspector involved in the Apollo Beach issue to come back.
County issues "Stop Work" order, doesn't want inspector back.
By Steve Andrews July 23, 2015
http://wfla.com/2015/07/23/private-inspector-working-for-hillsborough-misses-serious-code-violations/
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL (WFLA) – A private building inspector, paid by Hillsborough county, missed serious code violations on an Apollo Beach remodel job. The code violations were so serious, the county issued a “Stop Work” order. 8 On Your Side confirmed a private inspector, working for a company hired by Hillsborough county, somehow overlooked the fact that more work was underway at the home than the permit allowed.
“What the proper procedure we would have liked is for him to call back to the office and said, “Hey I came out to look at these windows and doors, and they’re adding walls, they’re moving walls,” Hillsborough county’s new Building Official Mike Rimoldi said. The county is paying three companies between $54 and $58 dollars an hour for private inspectors to assist county building inspectors with a heavy load.
The three contracts total more than $530,000 dollars a year. With benefits included, Hillsborough’s highest paid building inspector earns about $42 dollars an hour. So how did a private inspector miss renovations going on outside the scope of the permit that was issued? “I don’t know that he missed it. We would have appreciated it if he would have called up and said, “Hey I see additional work there, and that’s one of the things we’re trying to work through,” Rimoldi added.
The homeowner contacted the county because he was concerned about the workmanship on the project. Rimoldi explained, the building department then sent out one of its senior inspectors to check things out. “Come to find out there was additional work being done there that wasn’t within the parameters of that original permit,” he said. That’s important because plans to build or remove walls must be reviewed and approved to ensure a building’s integrity. The county issued a “Stop Work” order.
“The inspector’s job is to compare the plans with the work being completed and ensure that the work matches the plan,” Greg Yantorno, the president of the Building Officials Association of Florida stated. Concerns about private inspectors were raised at a June 25th meeting between county building inspectors and Hillsborough county Development Services director Adam Gormly
Notes of the meeting obtained by 8 On Your Side state, “Private providers not effective and missing sasfety issues. Suggestions-hiring retired inspectors part time.” Rimoldi says sending out of of its senior inspectors was redundant, it cost the county time and money. The County does not want the inspector involved in the Apollo Beach issue to come back.
