Committee forwards plan to convert keyboard specialist to full‑time code enforcement officer

John Rose, Director of Building and Fire Codes, told the General Service Committee the department’s job functions have shifted toward automation and increased inspections and property‑maintenance enforcement, prompting a recommendation to upgrade a vacant senior keyboard specialist position to a fully certified code enforcement officer (CEO).

Rose presented activity figures — roughly 4,250 inspections and 830 permits last year (documented through the county’s cloud permit system) and about 200 documented code‑enforcement cases — and argued that five full‑time inspectors would better meet workload than the current staffing model. He said automation reduces clerical time and proposed creating a CEO position that would allow the department director to focus on broader planning and legal responsibilities.

The committee moved to forward a resolution amending the Lewis County compensation plan to abolish the vacant senior keyboard specialist position and create a full‑time code enforcement officer; the motion was carried and will be proposed for adoption at the full board meeting.