So the permit cost covers multiple visits from the inspector? Sounds like waste is built into the system. If it were up to me I'd give one inspection and then the second would cost more. Perhaps a contributing factor in the cost of permits is that contractors attempt to get away with cutting corners and costs. Does anybody else see how this wastes money and time? It's like saying if I triple the cost of a pizza and attempt delivery 3 times everything is okay because it's built in. Or maybe the gas station should sometimes pump water instead of gas and triple the cost to $5.10 a gallon.

Sounds like this inspector has run across contractors not being ready a lot (no suprise) and decided to educate this one on the principle. Inspections need to be done. The blocking with a truck, bribery, and you shouldn't need an inspector nonsense is stereo-typical. If the job wasn't done right according to the inspector you'd have to fix it and the inspector would re-inspect. The contractor is at fault here and they hopefully aren't passing the additional cost onto the customer.

And once again we find that "common sense" is not really that common on Coos County.

Last time I heard, by you closing your gate, or parking your car or truck behind this inspector to "keep" him there, isn't that holding someone against their will and against the law?

And to Barack Obama,

With some of the things that have seen done by homeowners or "handymen," you should thank your luck stars for licensing and inspection of electrical work (and other construction trades). Without the National Electrical Code and inspections, there would be a lot more home fires caused by electrical failures.

That's not to say the code is perfect, or that it isn't influenced by lobbyists. There's always some over-regulation.

Ok, here it goes. I do work for Reese, but I am not the guy that was on that job.

No, Mr E, I have never and will never offer a bribe to an inspector for any reason. And as to hiring the right contractor, Resse has a pretty good rapport with the inspectors because we are known for doing quality work. Most times yes, the inspector will pass the job, even if we are not 100% complete.

To Geeze
Sometimes the shop will call to get the inspection if the job is going to be done that day, and ask for an inspection in the afternoon. That doesn't mean that the inspectors schedule will mesh with ours. Again, usually the inspector will pass the job, as long as the majority of it is done.

Correct protocol is usually to wait until the work is done to have the inspector come out.

I know some folks who just had a house built, and never had any trouble with inspectors, since the work was finished before the inspector ever came out.

Something doesn't sound right here.

Well the article should be titled, "Contractor wastes inspectors time". Why wasn't the work DONE before the inspector got there? That’s how inspections work; the inspector comes when the job is READY to be inspected. Easy enough to do, but obviously not for some contractors.

Also, what if the inspector looked at what was being done and could tell it would take the contractor more than 10 minutes? How long is the inspector suppose to wait? What is the magical allotted amount of time he should hang out that would appease all the whiners?

Plus the suggestion of offering a bribe is just lame. Only an ignorant fool would even suggest that someone would take a bribe and jeopardize their job for doing so.

There are a lot of unlicensed handymen out there who don’t want inspectors to check their shoddy work. You take your chances when you don’t get inspections, and your insurance won’t cover you when things go wrong.

The real waste of money is the fact that you need an inspector in the first place. Government regulation is a joke.

Incidentally, just because things are done a certain way, doesn't mean they're done the right way.

It's routine for inspectors to let particular grievances go... again, not when safety is on the line, but when time constraints are involved. I've NEVER met an inspector who is entirely, 100% "by the book"... because there's no "book" that says one cannot wait 10 minutes when they're being paid to perform an inspection, especially when so far from the local area. I know of local inspectors who will re-schedule on a whim, or will leave a job because something is obviously wrong and cannot be immediately corrected. But in rural areas, inspectors will usually either wait, or go to other jobs and then come back.

Oh, but wait, I forgot, when people are stressed because they're overworked, they get a free pass to not do a proper and complete job. I guess being away from work for a few hours made me forget how many people believe in this attitude.

You should've slipped him a $100 bill... he would have stayed for 15 extra minutes.

That's not a joke, either. That's how things work in this part of the state all too often. Even Worker Bee could tell you that... he's probably done it before.

Another interesting tidbit... if you hire the RIGHT companies, you won't have to worry about the inspector not having 10 extra minutes on his hands. It's not all that dissimilar from construction/plumbing inspectors in this area.

Ellen, are you special or something? You wasted our money. You are supposed to call the inspector when the job is ready for inspection. It was not. Period. End of story. The nerve of some people to show their ignorance in public. Fools names are just like their faces they always appear in public places.

I think the whole point is the waste of money that was apparent.The inspector drove over from Roseburg. So there we have 3 hours drive time that we paid for. Yes, He probably had other inspections to do in the local area so he did not make a "special" trip just for Ellen. But instead of waiting a few minutes, the inspector decided that she will have to wait until the next time he was scheduled to come over (usually Tuesday or Thursday if I remember correctly). Meanwhile, she cannot continue with any other work she may need done until the inspection is complete.

1313: Your going to lose this one .. shhhh.
Ellen, your right, it shouldnt of turned out like this. He will be back, and maybe with an apology, let him apologize if he wants to.
Worker Bee: Thank you for the insight. With cutbacks in just about every thing that touches our lives these days (even the Staples employee admits staff cuts are hurting their cust svc), I for one am having to "learn" to take a deep breath, step on my tongue and "think" before I speak when something isnt right. I am sure to wear very clean socks these days :)

1313,

We only have the complaining parties word that it would have taken 10 minutes. There are other places closer to the Keelands (in Loon Lake), like Reedsport, that he could have been coming from. Bottom line, the inspector was there to inspect the FINISHED PRODUCT. You may not like it, but those are the rules he has to follow. Sure, he could bend those rules as some do, but maybe he's a by-the-book type of guy.

Again, you are jumping to conclusions without knowing all of the facts, which actually shows very little common sense. And calling someone an idiot for following their employers policies shows very little class.

To Worker Bee, maybe I don't know to much about the inspectors, BUT I have common sense and no matter what you say, driving 3 hours round trip twice is still idiotic if waiting 10 minutes would have avoided that unnecessary second trip.

As an electrician myself, I can shed a little more light on the situation. All of the inspectors are running ragged. They have a lot of area to cover, and their staff has been cut back. For Coos and Curry counties there is ONE electrical inspector. The state let the 2nd inspector go, so now he has to do the work of 2 men in the same amount of time. Even with work being slow, he has a lot of area to cover for just one man. I am sure it is the same with the Douglas and Western Lane inspector (the one who is being complained about). And no, Reese (and the customer) will not have to pay for him to come back again. There are at least 2-3 inspections covered in the cost of the permit. Because some jobs require multiple inspections.

So 1313, before opening your mouth about things you don't know about, maybe take some time to find out more info.

People to see! Places to go! Time's short!


Geez, you would think this guy was going to miss the kickoff of the Super Bowl or the Kentucky Derby. Hopefully you send along a report about his unwillingness to accomodate those in remote locations to his superiors. If that fails to work, write to your state rep and senator to get them to lean on these bureaucrats.

I guess the inspector got a lot of free time just driving back and forth. If he was truly that busy he couldn't wait 10 minutes, then he would not be wasting 3 hours to come back again another time. What an idiot he is. This is why everything cost so much money, because of idiots like him.
He should be fired for a decision like this one.
Ms.Keeland I hope you report this to someone above him, this kind of thing should not go unreported. He is wasting government time and money to look important.

I guess the inspector got a lot of free time just driving back and forth. If he was truly that busy he couldn't wait 10 minutes, then he would not be wasting 3 hours to come back again another time. What an idiot he is. This is why everything cost so much money, because of idiots like him.
He should be fired for a decision like this one.