Authorization to Approve a Promotion in the Building Division

The purpose of this case is to seek City Council approval to promote a current Building Inspector/Plans Examiner to an Assistant Building Official.  This matter was discussed with the City Council at the June 25, 2024, work session.   The consensus if the City Council was to proceed with the plan described below:

Background: Since early May 2024, the City has contracted with Andy Schreder, Rum River Consultants (RRC), to be the City's designated Building Official.  This was due to the resignation of the former Building Official.  During this time, Mr. Schreder has worked closely with the Community Development Director and the City Administrator to assess the operations of the Building Division and provide insight from his decades of experience on how the City should proceed forward.  In addition to the insight from Mr. Schreder, existing staff have recommended operational adjustments that have increased the division's efficiency. The current staffing levels within the division include a vacant Building Official, two full-time Building Inspectors, a 34 hour per week Permit Technician, a 20 hour per week Permit Technician and a 28 hour per week Administrative Assistant.  Over the past several years, the City has also brought in supplemental building inspector services during the summer building months.  With additional efficiency improvements to be implemented over the next year, the staffing level in the Building Division is close to what it needs to be. The recommendation is to hold off on replacing the Building Official and to promote Mr.Thomas Knight, a current Building Inspector/Plans Examiner, to Assistant Building Official.  Mr. Knight would remain in this role for approximately one year to receive targeted training by RRC to assume the full role of Delegated Building Official on or near July 1, 2025.  During this time, the Building Inspector/Plans Examiner position would remain vacant, but it would be supplemented by services from RRC.  The vacant Building Inspector/Plans Examiner position would be filled on or near April 1, 2025.  The reason for leaving the position temporarily vacant stems from the low likeliness of hiring an experienced Building Inspector/Plans Examiner.  Furthermore, if the City attempted to recruit at this time, the position would not be filled until sometime in late September, which is nearing the end of the busy construction season. By hiring the replacement Building Inspector/Plans Examiner position to start near April 1, 2025, that would allow for about one month of time to train a new person on the City's operational procedures, software, etc. prior to the building season typically beginning in May.

The 2024 funding required to promote Mr. Thomas Knight to Assistant Building Official and to retain Rum River Consultants for inspection and Building Official services for the remainder of 2024 is approximately $113,446.  The funding required for this action would come from the building division budget.

To promote Mr. Thomas Knight to Assistant Building Official, at step four of the 2024 pay scale, which is $46.63 per hour, effective July 13, 2024.

Motion to promote Mr. Thomas Knight to Assistant Building Official, at step four of the 2024 pay scale, which is $46.63 per hour, effective July 13, 2024.