Clermont County building department reports faster commercial reviews, hiring and training steps to cut residential backlog
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Summary
Chief building official Heath Wilson told commissioners the department is handling about 400 more permit applications than last year, has largely cleared commercial plan review and is recruiting and training staff to reduce residential plan-review times.
Heath Wilson, chief building official for the Clermont County Building Inspection Department, briefed the commissioners Sept. 17 on changes to permit processing, staffing and training aimed at reducing review times.
Wilson said applications are "at record pace," about 400 ahead of last year for commercial and residential submissions. He told the board the department is now largely up to date on commercial plan review and will return to a 10-business-day turnaround for newly submitted commercial plans. Residential review remains behind the departments five-business-day goal, but Wilson said hiring and new internal training should accelerate residential reviews.
"We're basically paperless right now with submittals," Wilson said, noting electronic submittals and a third-party plan reviewer brought on by the county have helped speed reviews. He described staffing changes spurred by July 1 certification-process changes in Ohio that allow the department to recruit trainees who can progress to permit clerk and inspector roles internally.
Wilson also said he is reinstating a weekly inspector training class to improve inspection consistency and that staff are coordinating with the county planning department to streamline subdivision and plat review processes, including electronic signatures.
Commissioners asked about the phased permit process and whether contractors and developers were adapting; Wilson said there are "hiccups" but that getting projects started promptly helps contractors and residents. The board thanked him for the update.
Ending: The department will continue hiring and training under the new certification rules, will maintain weekly inspector instruction and will pursue electronic workflow improvements to reduce residential plan-review times.
