Rockwall moves to centralize Development Services; staff request new clerk, Bluebeam licenses

Rockwall County's new Development Services structure got detailed treatment at the June 25 budget workshop as staff described planned organizational placement, staffing and small software purchases intended to support digital plan review.

Miss Erica Bridges introduced Development Services as an umbrella combining GIS, environmental health, road and bridge-related permitting and future fire marshal functions. Bridges said some prior budgets were submitted before she arrived and that she had not yet consolidated all line items; she proposed combining those items into a single Development Services budget on the first draft.

Staff proposed a "development services clerk" to serve as a front-counter and intake position at the annex. Bridges described the position as an entry-level role to receive permit applications, route items, answer basic property and culvert questions, and assist with online intake. She budgeted the position at an "all-in" salary of $51,003.22, which Bridges said included benefits.

The court also reviewed a small software ask: two licenses for Bluebeam, a plan-review tool. Bridges said Bluebeam permits reviewers to measure and calculate square footage and other plan details more efficiently; the request in the packet was for two licenses and Bridges cited a per-license annual figure in the discussion.

Several commissioners asked that, when the first draft is produced, staff present a consolidated page that shows development services, GIS and environmental health together so the court can see combined personnel and operating costs. No formal action was taken; staff were asked to fold subordinate department budgets into the first draft so the court sees a single Development Services budget line for deliberation.