Position: Vacant Property Inspector

Property Inspector

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position: Vacant Property Inspector

Reports To: Community Development Director

Group/Department: Community Development Department

Work Location: Sidney Municipal Building, City Jurisdictional Limits

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Position Summary: Under direction of the Community Development Director, the Property Inspector performs inspection work involved in eliminating blight and restoring and/or eliminating subnormal properties within the City of Sidney. This includes inspection of existing vacant structures; enforce compliance with existing property maintenance code; enforce zoning and other codes and ordinances; enforce departmental procedures pertaining to dangerous buildings; administer the City’s Vacant Property Registration Program.

Nature and Scope:

The Inspector must possess the ability to perform a variety of routine to complex duties related to the City’s Vacant Property Registration Program including: the identification, investigation, and correction of the violations of the City’s building, property maintenance, and zoning codes and City and State building and safety codes and ordinances; complete complex inspections of residential, commercial and industrial building sites; communicate effectively; investigate citizen complaints of public nuisances and quality of life issues; maintain records and files; prepare reports and have the ability to present inspection findings; seek voluntary compliance and initiate abatement procedures; and perform related work as required. Must have the ability to organize and prioritize work, work independently, and work with confidential information.

Scope:

Inspects vacant structures and other buildings for conformance with existing codes; orders corrective action and inspects for compliance.
Receives complaints; investigates and resolves complaints according to standard complaint procedures.
Maintains vacant properties registry and reports on status of cases.
Monitors security of vacant properties.

Challenges:

Communicating with individuals from a wide range of educational, social and economic backgrounds.
Working with people that are emotionally upset, angry or irate.
Occasional work within building with unsound structural systems including work in fire damaged buildings.
Moderate work during inclement weather and weather conditions (snow, ice, rain, cold, heat, and humidity).
Moderate work on ladders to inspect roofs.
Occasional work in cramped spaces such as crawlspaces, basements, and attics.

Other Requirements:

Exercising the highest-level professionalism and objectivity in inspections.
Investigating ownership of properties through a variety of means.
Coordinating with other departments/agencies as appropriate, to address specific building safety, property maintenance, and zoning violation issues.
Writing letters, reports, summaries, and other types of written communication.
Enforcing departmental procedures pertaining to dangerous buildings.
Entering and tracking inspection and correction data in automated and spreadsheet programs. Preparing and maintaining records and files.
Utilizing various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems.
Attending occasional weekend and evening meetings.

Qualifications:

High school diploma/GED and two (2) year’s work experience in building construction and/or relevant code enforcement. Experience as a journey level electrician, carpenter or related craftsperson in the building construction field is highly desirable.
College Associate’s Degree is highly desirable.
Basic knowledge of computer systems for an office setting, including ability to utilize permit and enforcement software programs and spreadsheets.
Knowledge of methods and practices involved in building construction.
A valid Driver’s License