Topic: County Agency Performance?

OK. The BS on this thread has gone on long enough. Rather than rely on Stan's one-sided account of the building project gone bad in Chestnut Springs, I called Jeff Ricketson who is over Planning and Building and Codes and asked him about this case. He checked and found nearly 2o building codes citations were issued on this structure and that eight separate inspections were performed on the home. Three inspections is the norm for a single-family home. Moreover, the owner Mr. Chandler fired the original builder and completed the project as an owner builder. Ricketson said if Stan wanted to interview him and do a story based on the FACTS, he'd be happy to talk with him. I also asked Ricketson about screens and porch insulation, and he said neither is required under the code. He also said that passing inpection does not guarantee good workmanship. It simply means a building meets safety codes. The only way to get good workmanship is to hire a reputable builder.

OK. The BS on this thread has gone on long enough. Rather than rely on Stan's one-sided account of the building project gone bad in Chestnut Springs, I called Jeff Ricketson who is over Planning and Building and Codes and asked him about this case. He checked and found nearly 2o building codes citations were issued on this structure and that eight separate inspections were performed on the home. Three inspections is the norm for a single-family home. Moreover, the owner Mr. Chandler fired the original builder and completed the project as an owner builder. Ricketson said if Stan wanted to interview him and do a story based on the FACTS, he'd be happy to talk with him. I also asked Ricketson about screens and porch insulation, and he said neither is required under the code. He also said that passing inpection does not guarantee good workmanship. It simply means a building meets safety codes. The only way to get good workmanship is to hire a reputable builder.

-white-plains-drifter

Then pray tell if IT MEETS MINIMUM SAFETY STANDARDS WHY THERE ARE SAFETY CODE VIOLATIONS DOCUMENTED BY AN INDEPENDENT ENGINEER THAT SCLLR REVIEWED AND ALSO DOCUMENTED and HENCE IS TAKING THE CONTRACTOR TO HEARING OVER? HOW DID THE COUNTY ALLOW A SUBSTANDARD ROOF THAT DOESN'T MEET CODE(improper framing and no hurricane clips- CHECK THE CODE since you're an expert), A FOUNDATION THAT DOESN'T MEET CODE (footings missing, scabbed together) AND A FIREPLACE THAT SEEPS SMOKE INTO THE STRUCTURE (HAS NO FIREBRICK)-just to name a few- PASS THEIR INSPECTORS? THE FRONT PORCH (NOT THE REAR PORCH-THAT WAS A MIS-QUOTE) WAS REPLACED TWICE AND STILL DOESN'T MEET CODE BUT THE COUNTY PASSED IT...OUTSTANDING JOB on behlaf of county employees. And just to set the record straight the builder wasn't fired, HE WALKED OFF THE JOB. Did your guy actually PERSONALLY visit the property or did he just look at the file (was a copy of that sticky note in there?)? I've seen the file, I've seen the house, the photos, I've seen the report- it's OUTRAGEOUS what the county allowed to happen and my guess is before it's all over the taxpayers will have to cough up some cold hard cash TO KEEP MR. CHANDLER- WHO BY THE WAY IS A CIVIL FORENSIC CONSTRUTION ENGINEER WITH 2 MASTERS DEGREES HAPPY. Rest assured the Chandler file is long and distinguished and just chock full of ART- (photo documentation with dates of errors AFTER the county approved and signed off). You just don;t build a house for an engineer and expect it to be half way my friend.

So let's all put that in the county's pipe and have a good smoke on it- we'll feel much better before we have to pay out tax dollars in what will probably become a lawsuit against the county. Or better yet, why don't we take our lifesavings to build a dream house only to discover that the house can't be sold because of all of the violations. And just so we can truly set the record straight, the builder was on a short list and the bank had seen their work before - the bank did NOT force Mr Chandler to use this builder. By all accounts the builder did good work but just fell apart about 2 months into the process- possibly over extended? FACTS MEAN SOMETHING.
At the end of the day the point is WE NEED BETTER LEGISLATION AND BETTER EDUCATION for CONTRACTORS AND INSPECTORS.

Who performed the engineering report? Surely not the distinguished Chandler himself. And how could such an accomplished professional forensic construction engineer have been so bamboozled by a contractor? You'd think he'd have been on top of such violations. As for the County, I believe all inspectors are thoroughly trained and certified. And Ricketson said multiple violations were cited in more than 8 trips to the job site. Sorry Spring but you're full of crap on this one. But nonetheless, Chandler has remedies and opportunities to present facts in the case. Let it run its course and then react to the factual findings rather than the outcome you desire. By the way Springs, how is it that you are so knowledgeable about Mr. Chandler's project? Are you just an interested blogger, an apprentice reporter for Stan Welch, or what? You appear to be a bit jaded.

In fairness to the state or local homebuilders associations (and the county for that matter), I don't think anybody condones shoddy building practices. Re: October 29th (anniversary of Black Monday) - Time will tell. Have a superb weekend!

WPD - if you ever built a house you would know the code officer says "keep going, good job" or "noooooooooooo, fix this now". So despite the fact that inconsistencies in code vs. actual building were being reported, the builder could keep going as long as he got the code officer's thumbs up. The bank would expect that the "professional opinion" was correct and keep allowing draws.

SS,You can factually make the case that as a member of County Council, MCW (aka the Political Neophyte) has had ample opportunity to champion causes, build coalitions, and work with other members of council on correcting this glaring issue, of which I agree with you on (continuing education is critical to EVERYTHING - you never stop learning).Alas - you could also make that case about the other six members of council too :(The question becomes now: Which council member, current or incoming, will champion this cause and correct the issue at hand?- SSHM

-sshm

Spring, your derogatory references to the honorable Ron Wilson, County Council District #6 representative, tell me all I need to know about your view of the world. You already already spent whatver credibility you ever had about this or any other issue on your past rants about JP, the budget, the 800 Megahertz system, etc. This is just your latest baseless attack against the county. As for state legislation, go speak with YOUR state senator Kevin Bryant. Senator Bryant owns any deficiency we have with regard to state legislation on homebuilders and the inspection process. Has he introduced any legislation to address these severe limitations you've raised? If you can ever extract Kevin's head from Mark Sanford's a55, perhaps you can whisper your concerns about the need for more state GUVMENT regulation of home builders into his ear. Yep, I'll be looking to hear the Senator's proposals on more GUVMENT regulations to protect the TAXPAYER from the homebuilder VERY SOON. You're a great American Spring.

This is just your latest baseless attack against the county.

-white-plains-drifter

Hee hee hee most defenses are baseless as well.

It's fascinating to watch all you trained journalists discuss and set the standards. Since when are public douments an unacceptable foundation for a news story? Since Ernest and SSHM said so? Please. Ernest knows what color shorts Joey's wearing today and SSHM probably helped dress him. The fact isthe LLR is going tohave a hearing in October to determine whether this builder should retain his license or not. Holcombe and his department clearly failed to follow up on their inpsections, or the damn problem wouldn't exist. Duh!The article acknowledges that the majority of the screw ups were cuaght upon inspection, but that is only part of the job.

Spring, your derogatory references to the honorable Ron Wilson, County Council District #6 representative, tell me all I need to know about your view of the world. You already already spent whatver credibility you ever had about this or any other issue on your past rants about JP, the budget, the 800 Megahertz system, etc. This is just your latest baseless attack against the county. As for state legislation, go speak with YOUR state senator Kevin Bryant. Senator Bryant owns any deficiency we have with regard to state legislation on homebuilders and the inspection process. Has he introduced any legislation to address these severe limitations you've raised? If you can ever extract Kevin's head from Mark Sanford's a55, perhaps you can whisper your concerns about the need for more state GUVMENT regulation of home builders into his ear. Yep, I'll be looking to hear the Senator's proposals on more GUVMENT regulations to protect the TAXPAYER from the homebuilder VERY SOON. You're a great American Spring.

-white-plains-drifter