“The worst thing we can do is amass a fund balance and then hear from the building community that they are having to wait [on the county],” he added. “We need to be responsive to permits, we need to be responsive to reviewing plans and turning them around in a reasonable time frame, and we need to be out making these inspections so that they don’t carry over [into the next day].”
When asked about the department’s request, Clark County Commissioner David Madore praised Snell’s leadership and said that they have his support so long as the general fund isn’t touched.
“He (Snell) really has done a great job bringing good leadership to that department and we are completely revamping our permit center so that it can service people much more effectively than before,” said Madore.
Mike Bomar, incoming president of the Columbia River Economic Development Council and former executive director of the Southwest Washington Contractors Association, said that considering demand from the building industry, the increase in staff is warranted.
“Our recommendation is to stay as lean as you can, but at some point you have to expand,” said Bomar. “I know [Clark County] is looking at options to be more flexible with the ups and downs of the building trends, and certainly they’re at the point now with the amount of permits that we’ve seen this year and what we anticipate for this next year that it does make sense. I don’t think anyone is questioning that request from the industry side.”
Commissioners will consider the development department’s request during a public hearing at 6 p.m. on Tuesday Dec. 3. The hearing will take place at the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St., 6th floor hearing room, in Vancouver.
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