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Harrington code enforcement reports 2024 activity and plans new permitting software and online portal
Summary
The fire chief/code enforcement presented 2024 activity counts, described a new permitting and records software (First Due) and said the city plans to roll out online permitting and window stickers for permits; the software’s full module set would cost about $12,000–$13,000 annually.
The city’s code enforcement chief presented a year‑end summary of enforcement and permitting activity and described plans to move to new permitting and records software that will eventually support online permit submission, inspections and a resident preplan portal.
The chief said staff have changed spreadsheets to improve tracking and are working with an implementation team; full software rollout will take months and could take as long as two years to complete all modules. He said the city tracked code and building activity for 2024, listing counts the department recorded: "33 permits were pulled" and a breakdown that the chief recited as 25 building permits, 43 electrical, 30 plumbing, 16 mechanical, 2 demolitions, 1 sign permit and 16 roof permits. Staff also reported 22 vehicles flagged as inoperable or unregistered and removed from the street, with most owners rectifying the issue without towing or charges.
On property maintenance the chief reported 25 grass inspections, 106 violation notices, 75 cut orders and 31 cases resolved verbally; staff said 18 environmental or nuisance notices were issued with a few cases pending court review or mediation. One hazardous building notice and two new house construction permits on Gerke Court were reported, with eight inspections completed on those builds.
The chief said the department will return to issuing window stickers for permits so inspectors can identify permitted work from the street and plans to split the city into zones for inspectors as staff training progresses. The department recently switched to the First Due platform for emergency reporting and permitting; staff said First Due is thorough in onboarding and could support fire and code data in one portal. If the city purchases all modules the chief said the cost would be about $12,000–$13,000 per year.
Commissioners asked about inspection sign-off and tracking; the chief said contractors receive signed carbon-copy permits and staff logs inspections on a spreadsheet until the software is fully implemented, at which point mobile check-ins will be used.
No formal action was required; staff will proceed with software onboarding and implement window‑sticker permits and zoned inspector coverage.
