The city of Shakopee was recently audited by Verisk for the ISO insurance rating.  The auditors found that our inspectors far exceed the recommended number of annual inspections of 2,000 per year per inspector.  We had one inspector that completed almost 4,000 inspections.

The city received a training grant in the past that allowed the city to cover the cost of a new inspector for one year while ensuring that they were properly trained.  That inspector actually passed the full Building Official test and moved to another city.  The city currently has a rental inspector, three building inspectors, an electrical inspector and a Building Official.  The rental inspector has had to spend the majority of their time doing building inspections because of the large number of permits issued.  Last year we issued more than 8,000 permits.  A new construction single-family home will generate at least 15 inspections, and that assumes that there are no re-inspections.

The state program will allow the city to train in an additional inspector to assist in lowering the work load while also preparing the division for future retirements.

The Building Division's revenues were more than $2 million than budgeted to a very robust construction economy, despite rising interest rates and costs.

There are already a number of large projects underway in the city including Highview Park by DR Horton, and Lennar's new development on Valleyview that will generate substantial inspection work.  There are a number of industrial buildings that have received temporary certificate of occupancies that still will require tenant upfit.