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Commissioners table PCI contract renewal after debate over valuation method and large fee increases
Summary
County staff presented a proposed renewal with Professional Code Inspections and a new fee schedule (first update since 2006). Commissioners questioned ICC valuation methods, location‑based fee impacts and the size of increases; they requested redlined comparisons and stepped increases and withdrew the motion to adopt the contract pending further review.
The board reviewed a proposed renewal with Professional Code Inspections (PCI) to provide state construction code services for the county and to adopt an updated fee schedule. County staff said the current fee schedule dated to 2006 and that the proposed contract would adopt the ICC valuation methodology to calculate permit valuations when applicant estimates were not reliable.
Commissioners pressed several points: why fees were valuation‑based rather than strictly per‑square‑foot; whether location‑based valuation could penalize a similar‑sized house built in a higher‑value lake area; and whether a single large increase after 20 years was preferable to incremental adjustments. The PCI representative (Eric Thompson) and a business partner (Kirk Sharplin) explained that valuation methodology is an industry standard used statewide, that complex design and higher value projects sometimes require more review time, and that trades shortages and certification constraints have increased inspector staffing costs.
The discussion also flagged arithmetic errors in an example fee table (staff later acknowledged a spreadsheet error that understated percentage increases). Commissioners asked for a redlined fee comparison and for alternatives that would phase in increases. PCI and staff agreed to prepare alternative proposals and redlined comparisons for the next meeting. The motion to renew the contract and adopt the fee schedule was withdrawn and the item will return for further consideration.
Why it matters: The contract governs who administers permits, inspections and code enforcement for the county and the fee schedule affects builders and residents. Commissioners expressed concern about affordability impacts and asked staff for a clearer, stepwise approach and comparable examples showing how the fees would affect typical projects.
Representative quote: "If the commission's position is that we'd rather visit this every few years and do a smaller increase up front, I would not be opposed to going that direction," a county official said, summarizing an offered path forward.
The board took no final vote and directed staff and PCI to return with redlined alternatives and explicit square‑foot vs. valuation comparisons.
