City of Kinston announces new Planning Director; tables inspection discussion
At a recent City Council meeting, the topic of an agreement between Lenoir County and the City where the county would manage all inspections services including building, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing for the city of Kinston, was tabled until the new Director of Planning assumed their new role.
“I would hate to be making those types of decisions before the person [Director of Planning] is in place,” said Council member Felicia Solomon. “If Ms. Blount is getting ready to join us. I think it's really good for her to hear from our team in the county that this is what we are doing.”
Council member Chris Suggs was not opposed to waiting.
“I'm not in disagreement with waiting until we have a planning director in place who represents the city’s interest as well in this conversation,” said Suggs.
On Monday, the city announced Elizabeth Blount is the new Director of Planning for the City of Kinston.
Finance Director Donna Goodson ran the previous years’ cost to the city to maintain inspections as it is today.
“For the past five years, the city contribution to fund that organization, over and above our building permit revenues for the past five years is $261,000, almost $262,000,” said Goodson. “So there would be a cost saving to the city. For clarification, fiscal year 22 was the first year we actually were in the black by $5,400.”
Elizabeth Blount, City of Kinston Director of Planning.
Highlights of the proposal include:
The inspection technician and full time code enforcement officer would become county employers. The full time abatement officer’s position would move under the direction of the City’s Planning Department. The part time inspector position in the city will be abolished.
Vehicles currently used by inspectors would be transferred to the county, valued at $16,000.
The city would not pay the county anything for the arrangement, however, the county would establish and retain all inspection fees moving forward. The city currently budgets $145,000 for building permits.
The city will be responsible for developing the program for demolition.
Site Disturbance permits would fall under the city as the city already approves site plans.
The city would amend their existing permit to be for zoning approval only.
The city will retain minimum housing authority and responsibility as these are city-adopted codes.
The county would be the point of contact for all permitting reviews for the city as they relate to the building of a physical structure.
The initial proposal recommended a 10 year term, but City Council member Robbie Swinson discussed in the work session of reducing those years to five.
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