County building inspector resigns

By PATSY STODDARD Editor

The Emery County Commission reported the county building inspector Cameron Nerdin has resigned his position effective May 11. Commissioner Gary Kofford said they advertised for a building inspector in December 2009 after the death of building inspector, Mark DeBry. An inspector was hired, Cameron Nerdin, and he started in January. He has resigned due to what Kofford referred to as pressures from citizens of the county. “As of today, he is gone. We have talked about the position. We have looked at a couple of people who applied before and Sunrise Engineering. Right now a decision needs to be made to fill the spot.
“Either advertise again, or go with Sunrise,” said Kofford.
Kofford indicated that four years ago all the cities joined with the county for building inspector services. Orangeville opted out of using the county and has since gone with Sunrise because they felt their fees were cheaper. After the hiring of Nerdin, then other cities opted out, leaving Castle Dale, Huntington, Cleveland, Elmo and Green River still contracting with the county. If the county goes with Sunrise then 75 percent of the fees collected will go to the county and the other 25 percent to Sunrise.
Kofford said there has been a feeling in the county, that we don’t need a building inspector. Several years ago the county adopted the uniform international building code and since the state adopted the code and as Emery County is part of the state, they adopted the as well. A building code and inspection program offers protection for the builder and the buyer. You can be assured when buying a home that it meets the guidelines outlined in the code.
If builders do something wrong, or cut corners, then inspectors can rectify such situations and offer security for home builders and buyers. When you go to get a loan for a home, then one of the things banks ask for is a record of inspection before they will lend on a home. “There are added expenses for a buyer or builder, but it’s worth it in the long run,” said Kofford.
Kofford also addressed the ISO rating and how Emery County has a high rating which leads to lower insurance costs for fire insurance. If Emery County were to lose this high rating, then insurance costs could rise. “Cities and counties don’t have a choice, but to have a building inspector,” said Kofford.
Commissioner Jeff Horrocks explained the county works with several entities in the county in performing the services for free with fee waivers for building projects by the entities. He explained there was a fee waiver on the commission agenda for the addition to the Green River Medical Center which cannot be waived now, because the county doesn’t have a building inspector and the county could be stuck with the expense of the building permit.
“We can’t wait, we have to have a building inspector after today,” said Horrocks.
Commissioner Laurie Pitchforth said she wished to thank Cameron Nerdin for the great job he did as inspector for the county. “He was very knowledgeable,” said Pitchforth. She explained Nerdin had been involved with three tours of duty in Afganistan and Iraq and flew a helicopter. He was excited to be moving to a small community and purchased a home. “When I ran for office, I wanted to represent all the people of Emery County. Not just the old settlers, but the new people who move into our communities. Open up your hearts and welcome them. Don’t push them out. He survived three tours of duty, but couldn’t survive Emery County. We need to look at how we treat others,” said Pitchforth.
“In looking at the inspectors, there’s not a lot of options, but to go with Sunrise,” said Pitchforth. She said the cities should still have the opportunity to work with the county.
Kofford said people are calling every day for inspections. For now Sunrise will do the inspections for $25 per inspection, plus mileage.
The county can continue to do the clerical work for the cities and county and work with Sunrise.
Mike McCandless is the planning and zoning director, he requested the county wait until the cities have a chance to meet in their Council of Governments and discuss the matter and make a decision.
For the time being, the county will cover with Sunrise and Bob Bennett until the mayors make a commitment. Horrocks made the motion to go with Sunrise on a case by case basis for $25 per inspection plus mileage until a permanent contract is established. The matter will be brought back before the commission on May 25 and the decision the mayors make can be discussed then.
Kofford said part of the concern too has been in making sure Green River was covered, Sunrise has indicated they will pick up Green River, too. One of the main reasons the county became involved with the cities was because the small towns were having a hard time covering building inspections. Huntington City had a city inspector for a time, but he was only for residential. Prior to Bob Bennett’s coming, then the county didn’t have a commercial inspector.
In other commission business the fee waiver for the Green River Medical Center addition project was denied. The plans for the weight room, training room, and rest rooms at the metal building at the sheriff’s office was approved to advertise. Office space will be created for the ambulance supervisor and the electronics director, Bret Mills. The bid will appear May 11 and May 18 in the paper and then a pre-bid meeting will take place at the metal building on May 20. The bids must be received by June 7 at 5 p.m. and the bid opening will be June 8.
The county approved the agreement with the forest service where they pay for the treatment of mag-chloride on forest service roads and the county provides the blade.
In commission reports Horrocks reported he and Commissioner Kofford attended the fire station open house ribbon cutting in Cleveland. The addition of the fire station to the town is long overdue in the community commented Horrocks. He said the preservation committee for Emery County is looking at information panels at Temple Mountain. Public lands meeting was held and the county is still moving forward with a land use bill with input from Emery County citizens.
A new mural will be painted in the paleo room at the Museum of the San Rafael and Clifford Oviatt will do the work. The museum needs help with moving heavy objects out of the way so the painting can begin. In June the fire chiefs will go to Nebraska where the new fire trucks are being constructed and provide input there.
Pitchforth attended the meeting at the care center where they said June 20 is the completion date for the remodel project there. “It’s really looking lovely and we’re excited about that.”
Pitchforth mentioned some upcoming activities for the county. Including a dodgeball tournament at the rec. center on May 22. The Miss Emery Royal tea party on June 5. The Little Miss Emery pageant on June 5 at 6 p.m. for girls 5-8 years old. A ticket purchase for the tea party will get you into the Little Miss pageant. The Miss Emery pageant for girls 17-24 will be on July 17. The Miss Emery golf tournament will be June 12 at Millsite. The drill team will host a special needs children dance class on May 19-20. The spring soccer season went well and they went to a REAL Salt Lake game on Saturday and went down and met the players. May 15 is Armed Forces day and the American Legion Auxiliary from Ferron is hosting a bake sale and yard sale where all proceeds go to the Operation Home Support program which provides packages for soldiers. On Thursday there was an unsung heroes event sponsored by the libraries which honored community members who volunteer and offer their help in their communities.
Kofford reported the asphalt on the Moore 7 project started yesterday. It will take a week to complete. Nielson Construction is moving equipment into place to begin the Lila Canyon Road. The chip seal of the entire asphalt on Moore Road was awarded to Staker Paving of Redmond and will begin mid-June.
The Emery County Road Department has been improving the Little Wild Horse Canyon Road. It has three inches of road base and will receive three more as well as a coating of a pine pitch mix, which will improve the road quite a bit over what it’s been like lately.
Kofford mentioned the Goblin Valley road projects have had $9-10 million in projects there and one section of road remains and that entire stretch will be paved.
Plans are moving ahead for a rest stop at Horse Canyon between Wellington and Green River. This is a popular stopping spot for people, but no services are available there. Two pit toilets will be installed and picnic tables as well as parking. The historical preservation group has been approached to put up panels explaining mining history, Goblin Valley, dinosaur quarry and Range Creek information for tourists. A long range plan for the site includes a museum similar to the Fremont Indian museum along I-70 south of Richfield.
Kofford said Mayor Mistie Christiansen of Emery went to the CIB to secure funds for the water project in Emery. A grant from the Army Corps of Engineers for $5 million required a 20 percent match. Christiansen went to the board asking for funding to meet the match. A grant/loan was approved for $875,000. The loan portion will be for 30 years. Right now the diversion dam and settling pond are being constructed and that phase of the project must be complete for the pipe line project to begin. The pipeline will run next to the canal. This will ensure the citizens of Emery will continue to have water, even in the winter when the ditches freeze over.
The Huntington/Cleveland irrigation project just completed a project by Marshall’s in Huntington Canyon. There is approximately a years worth of work left on the irrigation project. Currently $70-80 million have been pumped into the project.
Steven Barton, county treasurer reported the MECCA Spring Bike Festival will take place May 15-16 in Green River.
The commission donated $250 to the Rocky Mountain Mine Rescue Association’s annual contest at CEU. Approval was given to contribute toward the tuition of Four Corners employees to attend the University of Utah School of substance abuse. The sheriff has money available for this training.
The commission approved business licenses for Bizzi Bodies Reloading, Touchstone Commercial Services and Jones Studio. Kimball and Roberts were retained as the FY2009 independent auditors for the county. Sabrina Wood, Cory Collard and John Conder were hired as 90 day temporary life guards at the Aquatic Center. A part-time clerk is being recruited for the Museum of the San Rafael and the Pioneer Museum.