Council approves renewal with NOVA Engineering for building inspections; council asks for weekend/after-hours amendment

The Forest Park mayor and council on May 5 approved a renewal contract with NOVA Engineering and Environmental to provide building‑inspection services and directed staff to pursue an amendment to allow inspections on weekends or after hours when requested by permit applicants, with any additional fees paid by the requester rather than the city.

Background

Planning and Community Development staff presented an annual renewal of the inspection services contract with NOVA Engineering, noting the revision standardizes the city’s contract language. Councilmembers asked whether the contract specified inspector working hours and whether NOVA provides Saturday inspections for other jurisdictions.

Council discussion and amendment

Staff said the currently presented contract did not specify permitted inspector working hours. The planning director indicated NOVA may perform after‑hours inspections for additional charges and that the city’s new online portal will allow applicants to select inspection windows when it launches. Council directed staff to pursue an amendment to the renewal that would permit weekend/after‑hours inspections if the vendor can provide them and to require that any extra cost for non‑standard hours be paid by the permit applicant.

Outcome

Council moved, seconded and approved the contract renewal and the direction to amend it as described. Staff said no amendment will be executed unless NOVA confirms availability and pricing; the city will not absorb overtime or after‑hours charges, staff said.

Speakers quoted in this article are those who spoke to the NOVA contract on the record and are listed in the speakers section.