LaSalle County’s Land Use Committee asked staff on Sept. 3 to press Safe Built for full, five‑day inspection coverage and to continue work on a revised building‑permit fee schedule after contractors reported inconsistent service and missed inspections. Chair Douglas Stockley opened the Sept. 3 meeting and led the discussion about the county’s contract with Safe Built and the pace of inspections.

The committee’s concern centers on what members described as reduced in‑person coverage since Safe Built took over inspections. “So, I did not get an updated contract from Safe Built yet,” Committee member Kathy Bridal said. Bridal said staff would review any contract with Jeremiah and bring it to the committee when available.

Steve Aubrey pressed the point more bluntly: “If they haven't gotten you the contract in 3 months, then they're playing games,” he said, arguing the committee should set inspection rates and consider alternatives if the contractor will not provide reliable coverage. Members described a common pattern in which the county’s inspector, identified as Matt, was in the county Monday, Wednesday and Friday and a newer plumbing inspector could be scheduled on other days, but the Tuesday/Thursday footing‑inspection coverage contractors expect has not materialized.

Brian (staff member) said Safe Built’s salesperson, Al Green, had told staff a contract draft was coming but that none had been received. Brian noted permit cards require a 48‑hour lead time for inspections and said contractors reported difficulty getting timely footing inspections: “And the most recent one that came up was, that somebody couldn't or, you know, a contractor couldn't get a footing inspection, but he did call the day before and then want it the next day,” he said.

The committee agreed staff should ask Safe Built to provide footing inspections on Tuesdays and Thursdays and to restore five‑day inspection coverage, at least for scheduling inspections. Committee members did not take a formal vote on a new contract or on changing fees; instead they directed staff to pursue the contract terms and to report back. Committee members also said they would convene an ad hoc group to continue work on fee changes and a competitive analysis of whether inspections could be brought in‑house.

The discussion also touched on trade‑specific fees and work patterns: members noted inspections for HVAC, plumbing and electrical are separate trades and suggested a fee schedule that could be simpler — for example, a flat fee for some inspection types — if the county chooses to alter how services are provided. No new fees were adopted at the meeting.

Staff indicated they will report back to the committee with the contract draft, clarification about who would be assigned to cover Tuesday and Thursday footing inspections, and any fee‑schedule proposals for committee review and, if appropriate, referral to finance.

Ending: The committee closed the item with direction to staff rather than a formal vote: staff were asked to secure written contract terms from Safe Built that include five‑day inspection availability (or an acceptable alternative), confirm the availability of the Tuesday/Thursday inspector, and continue work with volunteer committee members on any fee schedule changes.