Page 13 - FY Annual Report 2017-18

assessments are complete, building inspectors
will need to return for more in-depth assessments
of all properties before rebuilding can begin.

“It’s going to be a while before it’s business as
usual following a major earthquake,” Nielson
said. “We’re going to be really focused on triage
for quite a while. The reality of when we’ll issue
building permits for repairs or new construction?
I don’t know.”

“Six months? A year? We don’t know,” Nelson-Ow-
usu said. “We’re doing what we can to prepare,
but we just don’t know.”

Tight labor market poses challenges for Building Services

Like most employers in the construction sector, “There just aren’t a lot of qualified applicants out there,”
LUT’s Building Services struggles to find experienced Linfesty said. “It’s becoming a real challenge.”
people who can step into senior positions, such as As residential and commercial development in Wash-
building inspectors.
ington County continues, it’s a struggle for Building Ser-
“If we’ve had a lot of rain and the soil is wet, that can “It’s a tight labor market in general, and it’s tighter still vices to meet developer timelines while short staffed.
contribute to liquefaction—when loose soil behaves like in the building industry,” said Scott Linfesty, Building
a liquid,” Nielson said. “Washington County has lots of Official. “We’ve got a lot of senior staff who will likely “We’re trying to meet (developer) deadlines while assur-
silt, sand, and in many areas, a high water table. We’ve retire in the next few years, and filling those positions is ing that they’re constructing safe, quality structures,”
got some soil data, along with information on the age of going to be a real issue.” said Gary Nielson, Building Engineer. “We never sign
buildings, which can help us estimate high-impact areas off on something that we’re not comfortable with, and
following a quake.” A report released in June 2018 by the federal Bureau sometimes developers, builders and owners get con-
of Labor Statistics said employment of building inspec- cerned with delays. We understand that they’re anxious
Getting to those areas will pose another challenge for tors is projected to grow 10 percent from 2016–2026; to get projects started or finished as quickly as possible.
emergency responders, as roads and bridges are likely the average growth projection for all occupations But safety is always our priority.”
to be damaged and covered with debris.
is 7.4 percent.
In the wake of a seismic event, a staffing shortage could
“And we don’t know who will be able to report to During the Great Recession, many colleges and schools be even more impactful.
work,” Linfesty added. “Many of our employees com- cut programs in construction fields—including building
mute and might not be able to get here. Building inspection certifications—due to low enrollments. When “We’re struggling to keep up now,” said Kofi Nelson-
inspection staffs from all jurisdictions are supposed the economy started to rebound, there weren’t enough Owusu, Building Engineer. “After an earthquake, we
to report to the nearest agency’s building office qualified applicants in the employment pipeline to fill would need more hands-on support, not to mention
to pitch in following a quake. So it’s very likely we positions. While that situation is slowly improving, there trained inspectors. We don’t know where that staff is
will be working with inspectors from other cities are still gaps. LUT’s Building Services ended FY 2017–18 going to come from.”
and counties.”
with a 16 percent vacancy rate. Open positions included For information on careers with Washington County
Given the anticipated damages, it’s anyone’s plan reviewers, permit technicians, an engineer and Department of Land Use & Transportation, visit
guess when rebuilding could start. Once the rapid an inspector. www.careers.wc-lut.com

9 | Partnering for the Future LUT Annual Report FY 2017–18 LUT Annual Report FY 2017–18 Partnering for the Future | 10