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Freeport council pauses plan for in-house building department after county review; staff recommends annual reassessment
Summary
City staff reported new state requirements and estimated in-house permitting would need roughly 10 employees and additional resources; after county assurances and staff recommendations, council voted to pause the in-house building-permit transition and to review interlocal arrangements annually.
City planning staff presented findings after meetings with Walton County building-permit officials and recommended pausing the city’s transition to an in-house building department.
The staff presentation explained that building-permit fees are collected as fee-for-service and, by statute and practice, must be used for permitting activities; staff said recent state legislative changes (noted in the presentation) increase record-keeping and turnaround obligations and make the earlier two-person plan inadequate. The staff report stated an initial in-house building department would likely require about 10 employees, three to four vehicles, workstations and other equipment, and additional office space to meet the new requirements.
County staff—represented in the discussion by references to Billy Bearden, the county building official—told city staff they wished to continue serving the city and that the county’s building department has longstanding experience and capacity. Council members expressed concern that earlier estimates of potential revenue and staffing were incomplete; several members said they wanted more time to verify assumptions and avoid disrupting an effective interlocal relationship.
After discussion, the council voted to pause the implementation of an in-house building-permit department, direct staff to continue exploring options, and schedule an annual review of interlocal services and viability. Staff will report back during the next budget cycle with updated cost estimates and proposals for next steps.
