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Construction projects in Trigg delayed over lack of state permits
by Tom Berry, The Cadiz Record EmailTom
Dave McCraw, owner of Friendly Tire on US68, brought the issue to county Fiscal Court magistrates during a meeting at the Trigg County Courthouse Annex last week. McGraw is adding a classic car showroom to his US68 business. He said he was shut down when Building Codes Inspector Louis Hodges spotted the work and stopped to check for a permit. McCraw said he has been down for about six week. He told magistrates that he was not aware that he needed a state permit to build and neither was one of his contractors. "It's absurd. I feel like I've been attacked," McCraw said. "I wouldn't have even started if I had known this would happen." McCraw said he was unable to continue the work despite having to allow unsafe conditions to persist. Terry Slade, of the Division of Building Code Enforcement of the state Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction in Frankfort, told the Cadiz Record on Thursday that a state permit is required to build any type of structure other than a family home. A city or county permit is not enough. "The rule is that if you are building anything other than a one or two family dwelling you have to have a permit through this office," Slade said. Slade said the law has been on the books since January 2002 as part of the state's updated building statutes. He said the law does not include interior renovation work to existing buildings. However cites or counties that employ a qualified building code inspector to examine construction plans are not bound by the rule. The permit process, which is built on a fee schedule based on square footage, shouldn't take more than 20 calendar days, according to Slade. Permit costs depend on the type of construction with charges ranging from 5.5 cents per square foot for a warehouse to as much as 8.5 cents per square foot for "assembly" and "institutional" work, according to a DHBC fee schedule. The minimum fee for a review of plans - other than plumbing - was listed at $200. The China Buffet, which is now moving into commercial space once occupied by Paragon Pizza on Main Street, has also been put on hold awaiting a permit. China Buffet officials could not be reached for comment. Equipment and materials to build a new community center at the Housing Authority of Cadiz on Lincoln Street laid idle for two weeks while official sought a permit. Construction work continued for the first time this week. "We didn't know about it until we tried to get a plumbing permit," said Housing Authority Director Donna McNichols on Monday. She said the extra permit also cost the building architect another $600. City or county officials apparently could not have notified construction planners about the requirement when applying for a local permit. Slade and Hodges both said local officials should have been contacted. Apparently that didn't happen. County Judge Executive Berlin Moore and County Clerk Wanda Thomas said during the court meeting that they were not aware of the change and Cadiz City Administrator John Rittenhouse said he was not aware of the requirement until Hodges visited him at City Hall just two weeks ago. Builders can get temporary electrical power although they don't yet have a construction permit. Harold Meredith, of Pennyrile Rural Electric Coop, said those building structures within city limits can get electricity connected temporarily without a building permit, however those constructing buildings in the county are required to have a certificate from the county health department to get temporary service. The requirement helps to prevent the illegal dumping of waste and materials. However, those requesting permanent utility services in the city or the county must produce a certificate from a certified wiring inspector that would come from the DHBC, which would most likely want to see a copy of the department's construction permit. Those wanting to construct any type of commercial - or non-commercial - building other than a one or two family home are asked to call 1-502-573-0323 for information or see the DHBC's Internet Web page at www.state.ky.us/agencies/cppr/dhbc. Electronic application forms can be found on the Web site. You may also mail a request for information to the Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction, Office of the General Counsel, 101 Sea Hero Road, Suite 100, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601-5405.
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