The Building Inspection Division is dedicated to public safety throughout the City through area development, promotion of codes/standards, administration, and in education/instruction for the facilitation of safe and secure homes and businesses. The Building Inspection Division, under the City Municipal Code, adopts all of the Department of Professional Services, State of Wisconsin, Building, Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Codes. Through the adoption of these codes, the city ensures that all construction in the City is complaint with all codes and requirements of the State. The Building Inspection Division also works closely with Planning and Zoning, Engineering, Utilities, Streets, Police, Dept. of Public Works during all phases of construction.
Under the general direction of the Director of Planning and Development, the Building Inspection Licensing Clerk performs a wide range of diverse and responsible clerical duties for a variety of building inspection services especially as it relates to licensing and permitting, requiring individual judgment, initiative, and specialized knowledge in carrying out procedures and applying laws and regulations.
- Issues permits, collects fees, issues receipts, and provides assistance to the general public, contractors, developers, realtors, architects, and designers who visit, call, or write about building and construction services.
- Confers with planners, building inspectors, engineers, and staff on developmental plans, policies, specifications, or construction documents for compliance with City Ordinances, State Building Codes, and other regulations.
- Determines compliance with rules and regulations affecting commercial, residential, and accessory buildings.
- Ascertains whether or not proposed alterations and repairs conform to zoning requirements.
- Executes the complete licensing process which includes the application, receipt of fees and issuances of building trades contractor licensing, maintenance of insurance database, and correspondence with the State of Wisconsin Department of Professional Services.
- Reviews applications for fence permits, retaining walls, decks, etc.
- Performs various reception/clerical activities, greeting customers, answering telephones, processing mail, composing and typing letters and memoranda from general instructions, preparing of agendas, and assisting with the preparation of contractor license applications, etc.
- Maintains computerized cash receipts and other records as required.
- Creates and maintains all correspondence for the Housing/Nuisance/Code Enforcement Program.
- Processes municipal court citations issued by Inspectors, including reviewing for accuracy, entering into division’s recordkeeping system, transmission to Municipal Court, and submission of pertinent documents to City Attorney’s Office.
- Maintains records of projects reviewed and inspection records.
- Processes paperwork/certificates for the Inspectors.
- Processes open records requests regarding building inspection records.
- High school diploma or equivalent required.
- Post-high school courses relating to business and/or bookkeeping and/or other job-related course work preferred.
- Four years of progressively responsible office experience required, experience in the building trades or construction background strongly preferred.
- Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, and to prepare and maintain accurate and complete reports and records.
- Ability to read and interpret plans, specifications, construction documents, codes and municipal ordinances.
- Extensive knowledge of computers and programs (Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, MUNIS, etc.)
- Ability to exercise good judgment, courtesy, and tact in dealing with the general public, property owners, contractors, architects, engineers, and designers.
- Ability to answer a variety of questions and make appropriate referrals to inspectors and/or the division director.
- Ability to establish and maintain efficient working relationships with City officials, boards and committees, and City staff.
- Ability to act, make decisions, and justify action based on logic, good judgment, and rational thought.
