Three magistrates met with local builders, electricians and inspectors Tuesday to discuss a state mandate to contract with a state certified electrical inspector.
The committee met after the fiscal court received a letter from the Department of Housing, Building and Construction stating that the county must have a contract with any electrical inspector doing business within its jurisdiction.
“They’ve called our hand on it,” said magistrate Joe Rogers. Rogers, Daryl Flatt and Sammy Baker asked the 11 people who attended the meeting how they would like the county to proceed. The county could leave the process open for multiple inspectors or designate one person to be the inspector, magistrates said.
A general discussion took place with builders and electricians agreeing that Coy Neat, who does the majority of the inspections in the county, should be designated as the official inspector. Other inspectors could be identified in a secondary role in case Neat was not available to fulfill the position.
Everyone attending the meeting who was qualified to be an inspector was asked if he was interested in the position or to be listed as a secondary inspector. The committee was not sure if the secondary inspectors should be identified with the state and be required to sign a contract or would just work through Neat. Flatt said they would look into the specific requirements before the fiscal court meets in December.
The group also showed a consensus for the county to set rates at the rates Neat currently charges, which are $60 per inspection or $75 for a non-scheduled inspection. Non-scheduled inspections come at the request of builders on days Neat would normally not be in the county. Neat lives in Taylor County.
Neat attended the meeting and agreed to provide the county with a monthly report of his activity and to keep all records available according to legal requirements.
Magistrates said they would finalize the plan in time to bring a recommendation before the Dec. 11 fiscal court meeting and invited everyone to attend if they were interested. An approved inspector needs to be in place in January, Magistrate Baker said.
By Sharon Burton
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