“It’s a good opportunity for the city to collaborate with the county on providing services to residents,” said deputy city manager Scott Brunka.
The switch will save the city approximately $71,000 a year, Brunka said. The savings come in a decrease retention of collected fees kept by the county. NIC, the previous contractor, kept 90 percent of the collected fees, while the county will only keep 75 percent, generating an additional $22,000 for the city coffers, Brunka said.
Brunka said the switch would also lead to the elimination of an account clerk in the city’s service department, which would save another $52,000. Brunka said it is not clear if position elimination would result in a lay-off.
The Warren County inspectors offices are in Lebanon, which will make transitioning the building permit processing easier, Brunka said. Many builders in Lebanon already work with Warren County Building Department for projects outside the city.
Brunka said the city’s fee structure will stay the same. The building services division has been running in a deficit and has been subsidized for sometime by the city’s general fund, Brunka said.
The city will still retain some control over the process. The county will not process a building permit unless the applicant provides a certificate of zoning issued by the city that validates the proposed structure and use complies with Lebanon’s zoning codes. The county will also refrain from issuing final approval until the city has completed a final inspection.
Council ratified the move at its Jan. 11 meeting. The contract must next be approved by Warren County Commissioners. The switch would take place in mid-March, Brunka said.
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