[Mpls] Minneapolis Council votes to Eliminate Electrical Inspectors

[Andrew Zimmer]

We just had an city electrical inspector inspect our detached garage.
They called on Friday saying that they would be able to come out on
Monday.  I called them Monday morning saying that the afternoon would
work for me and they met me that afternoon.

I have heard a few inspection horror stories but my experience so far
has very good.  The city inspectors came out when they said they would.
The cable and phone companies are far more unreliable.

The homeowners night,
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/onestop/Homeownernight/, is an
outstanding resource for homeowners that really helped me out and others
should take advantage of.

Andrew Zimmer
Standish-Ericsson


-----Original Message-----
From: mpls-bounces at mnforum.org [mailto:mpls-bounces at mnforum.org] On
Behalf Of rick broberg
Sent: Saturday, October 01, 2005 10:16 AM
To: mpls
Subject: [Mpls] Minneapolis Council votes to Eliminate Electrical
Inspectors

>Let say that each inspector makes approximately $60,000 per year, times
ten is $600,000 leaving a net  
>loss of $500.000 in revenue.


This is where McLaughlin and Rybak differ, largely.  Rybak has hammered
City employees with 2% wage caps since he learned to do a budget.  In my
opinion, I don't believe that if Mclaughlin were mayor, he would be so
completely removed from the issues that he would cut out an entire
department that is so vital to development and safety in Minneapolis.  I
believe McLaughlin would see the value in the Electrical Inspections
Division and support the unions of Minneapolis City employees.

David's figures on this are close.  During the Council proceeding,
attendees were told the difference is 1 million in permit revenue to 1.4
million cost for an electrical inspection division.  The new Director of
Construction Inspection Services, formerly of the Minneapolis City
Attorneys Office, made the presentation to Council.  The Director of
Inspections reports directly to the Director of Regulatory Services
Department.  Ironically, as the list discusses the increased potential
for safety issues in the delegation the electrical inspections division
to the State, Regulatory Services new business plan stresses the top
four values of 
1. Life Safety
2. Health
3. Livability
4. Accountability
Email me off-list if you would like a copy, it is large.

This idea seems to be in direct conflict with the values of the
Regulatory Services Department.  This also hurts the Minneapolis
community through the unemployment of these individuals, some who live
in Minneapolis.  The Electrical Inspectors are an ethnically diverse
division.  

Finally, with Rybak's new ONESTOP for development, looks like they would
have to rename it (TWOSTEP?), as Minneapolis residents will be
contacting the State for our electrical permits and inspections.  And,
if you forget to contact the State for an inspection, or the contracted
inspector does not show up at the time that you scheduled so that you
could take time off from work to meet them, the State sends you a letter
telling you that they will be shutting off your electricity because you
failed to schedule a final inspection.  Never mind trying to coordinate
with other Construction Inspection Services inspectors.  

In discussions with coworkers who live in suburbs with State
inspections, the inspector took two weeks to get there.  Try telling
that to your sheetrocker.


Laura Huseby
314 50th Street East
   
REMINDERS:
1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at
http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation,
contact the list manager at mplslist at tcq.net before continuing it on the
list.

2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.

For state and national discussions see:
http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html
For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract
________________________________

Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn
E-Democracy
Post messages to: mailto:mpls at mnforum.org
Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls