Local contractor warns inspection schedule delays are costing builders; county to review SafeBuilt service

Contractor Ed Durden told the LaSalle County Board on July 10 that changes in the county’s building inspection schedule and inspection practices by SafeBuilt are causing costly delays for local builders. Durden, who identified himself as co-owner of Dirt Concrete Construction, said inspections are only performed Monday, Wednesday and Friday and that, even when an inspection is scheduled, inspectors have arrived hours late. “It’s cost me $5,700 out of my own pocket to cover guys just because I’m not getting inspections,” Durden said. He described instances in which a requested 11 a.m. inspection arrived at 1:25 p.m., delaying his concrete pours and increasing labor costs. The contractor also raised concerns about inconsistent code interpretations and procedural changes, including a new requirement he said an inspector told him that vertical rebar must be “tied” during footing inspections — a practice Durden said was different from how he has worked for decades. Durden said permit turnaround times have stretched from about a week historically to as long as three weeks and that some plan-review or documentation items (for example, an electrical receptacle drawing for a garage) had held a permit up for a week. Why it matters: Contractors said unpredictable inspections increase costs, slow housing construction and complicate scheduling across multiple counties. Durden said delays can force contractors to idle crews or add waiting charges to bids — costs he said he does not want to pass on to customers. Board response and next steps LaSalle County Board members acknowledged the complaint and said the issue is being looked at. Chair comments recorded on the transcript said the matter is “currently being addressed in land use,” and County Board member (last name Reid) offered to conduct research into the problem. The board did not take a formal vote on changes to inspection services at the July 10 meeting. Discussion only vs. direction vs. formal action This item was reported during the public-comment portion of the meeting and produced discussion and an informal direction to the land-use committee to review inspection service arrangements. The transcript records no formal motion or vote on contracting or inspection schedules at the meeting. Other context from the hearing Durden also mentioned interactions with SafeBuilt staff where he said staff told him to “plan my time better” and that on Tuesdays and Thursdays SafeBuilt asked for photo submissions in lieu of in-person inspections. He said an inspector also told him they perform their own private home inspections on the inspector’s off days, which Durden said felt like a conflict in scheduling priorities. Durden named the window manufacturer Monarch as meeting code but said an inspector recently objected to its use, and he reported that other contractors are similarly frustrated and reluctant to complain publicly because of fear of retaliation on future inspections. Ending Board members indicated they expect follow-up at the land-use committee; County Board member Reid said he would research the complaints. No county staff presented a formal response or timeline at the July 10 meeting.