HART – During a routine meeting for Oceana County’s Board of Commissioners Thursday, July 24, concerned community members brought to light a possible problem regarding scheduling building inspections. The meeting was chaired by Commissioner Paul Erickson, in the absence of Board Chair Robert Walker.
Scott Stovall of Shelby raised concerns about changes in the county building department during public comment of the Properties, Environment and Economic Development meeting. Stovall informed the board of commissioners that the current avenue for scheduling inspections was causing “headaches” for his business, Stovall Construction.
Stovall spoke on the inability to schedule inspections on housing construction projects, noting that his company is currently relying on a “lottery-type system.” Stovall, along with Richard Raffaelli, urged the board of commissioners to reconsider.
“A typical house has three plumbing inspections, three electrical inspections, three heating inspections and three building inspections,” Stovall said. “That’s 12 inspections per home for that project to be finished. To be able to stick to a schedule, I have to have the ability to schedule inspections well in advance.”
There was some confusion among the commissioners, as Commissioners Craig Hardy and Tim Beggs raised questions about when the changes to inspection scheduling occurred. County Administrator Tracy Byard read from the inspection contract language that inspections must be completed within 72 hours of the request.
During the regular meeting, an official discussion on the matter was added to the agenda. The result of that conversation was a motion approved unanimously by Commissioner Beggs to clarify language on building, plumbing, electrical and heating inspections, allowing those inspections to be made in advance, but completed within 72 hours of the requested date.
Susan Sniegowski, a judge for the 51st Circuit Court, presented information in the Finance and Administration meeting, further clarifying bond standards for the state of Michigan.
“In 2020, there was a comprehensive bipartisan legislature that changed a huge number of bond rules,” Sniegowski said. “It puts a lot of limits on what the courts can do. There is a presumption in Michigan of no cash bond for every case. The only time the law allows us to hold somebody on bond is with a homicide case or a violent felony.”
Sniegowski’s comments helped clarify questions posed by Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast on personal recognizance bonds at a prior meeting.
The Board also took action on several agenda items during the regular meeting. Vaughn White of Valley City Metals was appointed to the Materials Management Committee to replace Jim Kleiner, with a term set to expire on Dec. 31, 2029. Monte Barley was unanimously appointed to the Construction Board of Appeals for a six-year term.
A motion to allow the transfer of $57,673 in Michigan Department of Transportation grant funding to the Ionia Airport due to a funding lapse originally designated for the Oceana County Airport was also carried. The commissioners also approved the Child Care Fund Budget to be submitted to the State of Michigan.
