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Business owners urge Carroll County to explore local building-inspection options amid state permit delays
Summary
A business owner told the Fiscal Court he invested about $600,000 and later discovered state permitting requirements and slow state inspections are delaying local projects; the court discussed forming a committee or pursuing interlocal or contracted building-inspection services.
A local business owner on Sept. 23 urged the Carroll County Fiscal Court to examine local building-inspection options after describing significant project delays tied to state permitting.
The owner, who spoke during a public-comment exchange, said he invested roughly $600,000 in storage and related work and only later learned that a state safety permit applied because the county does not have a county building inspector. "I invested about $600,000," the speaker said, describing the surprise requirement and the costs and delays that followed.
Why it matters: The speaker and other participants said state inspection timelines — in some cases a multi-week wait for state inspectors — are stalling work, raising material and labor costs, and discouraging local expansion. County staff and consultants noted that some neighboring counties use interlocal agreements or contracted inspectors to provide timely local inspections.
Court discussion: Participants suggested forming a committee or task force that would talk with the chamber of commerce, local contractors and nearby counties to explore interlocal agreements or contracting with a part-time inspector. Speaker 8 said the state charges $1,280 to submit a building-permit application and that counties can consider recouping inspection costs with local fees.
Officials mentioned a possible external contact: Matt Dunaway, a building inspector associated with Oldham County (also noted as an electrical inspector), as one potential resource to consult. Judge Executive (identified in the transcript as the county’s judge executive) said he would contact Judge Woodburn in a neighboring county and pursue next steps.
Next steps: Court members asked staff to research contracting options and interlocal agreements and to report back at a future meeting. No formal policy change or vote on instituting a local inspector was taken at the Sept. 23 session.
QUOTE: "I invested about $600,000 ... I didn't know this. It's my fault," the business owner said of the permit requirement.
