Redington Shores weighs contracting building department services with Indian Shores

Redington Shores commissioners discussed a proposed interlocal agreement with the Town of Indian Shores on Aug. 13 that would have Indian Shores provide building department services to Redington Shores.

Mayor Tom Kapper said Indian Shores has authorized staff to begin negotiations and Town Manager Margaret Carey told the commission she has met twice with Indian Shores officials—once with its building official to review operations and once with its administrator and finance director to explain Redington Shores' payment and collection processes. Carey said Indian Shores plans to use its own fee schedule and intends to bill Redington Shores hourly for work performed.

Commissioners asked for more specifics before any final agreement. Commissioner CJ Hoyt raised a resident concern about customer-service accessibility, noting building-department services are currently not available to the public on Fridays. Commissioner Doug Harr asked whether the town would keep a 'plan B' if negotiations stall; Carey said previously received bids would serve as that contingency. Carey said she would bring building-department traffic statistics and draft agreement details to a workshop on Aug. 27 for further discussion.

Town Attorney Rob Eschenfelder asked clarifying questions about how resident payments would be collected and how Redington Shores would remit payments to Indian Shores; Carey said those administrative details will be clarified in the draft interlocal agreement and during staff-level negotiations. The commission did not take action on the item during the meeting.