In a recent government meeting, community members expressed urgent concerns regarding delays in the permitting process following recent storm damage. Dailene Smith, a resident of Loch Lomond Estates, highlighted the frustrations of waiting for permits, stating that her contractor is on the verge of being lost due to the prolonged approval process. She emphasized the need for a more efficient system, suggesting that officials could expedite approvals by allowing staff to \"rubber stamp\" documents once all necessary paperwork is submitted.

Smith's comments were echoed by another resident, Pat Jennings, who has been living in a rental home for two months while waiting for permits to restore her own house. Jennings pointed out that the delays are not only causing financial strain but also hindering the recovery process for many families in the area.

The meeting also addressed the potential for utilizing insurance funds and permit waivers to expedite repairs at local marinas, with one speaker urging the city to act swiftly to avoid further negative impacts on the community. The speaker warned against letting the situation deteriorate, stressing the importance of timely action to restore essential services.

City officials acknowledged the challenges, noting that a recent system outage had contributed to the delays. They assured residents that online permitting was back up and running and committed to investigating specific permit issues raised during the meeting.

As the community grapples with the aftermath of the storm, the call for improved efficiency in the permitting process remains a pressing concern, with residents eager to return to their homes and restore normalcy in their lives.