By Derek Tyson
The Welch News Editor

WELCH, W.Va. – Monday’s Welch City Council meeting was the final public hearing on a new ordinance adopting various Building Codes within city limits.

City Attorney Joshua Miller went over the details with City Officials and Council.

“Whereas we’ve appointed a building official, Mr. Bob McKinney, his role and obligation will be to enforce the Building Code as it relates to the building codes we’ve adopted,” said Miller. “The City Building Code is the same building code we fell under before, but it’s now monitored by a City Official rather than the Fire Marshal’s Office.”

Miller said the City had done everything in conjunction with the State Fire Marshal’s Office with their blessing and support.

“This is the last and final stage before we move on to get Mr. McKinney into his position,” said Miller.

Councilman Jim Spence asked if the rates, also found below, were comparable to other municipalities.

“They are, we pulled from many different municipalities and ours are probably lower than 90% of them,” said Miller. “We didn’t want to make it a burden on anyone. This is basically from a safety and overall benefit of the City standpoint.”

City of Welch Mayor Harold McBride spoke about Building Code inspections and permitting formerly being handled by the McDowell County Redevelopment Authority, which was dismantled by the County Commission last year.

“That’s why we decided to do this thing right. We’ve worked with the Fire Marshal’s Office, he’s come down with Bob, Josh, Jason and myself,” said McBride. “We made sure that we set it up the right way and are doing it the right way. It not only protects people from getting ripped off by contractors out here, it also helps with insurance costs in city limits.”

Fees associated with Residential Construction permitting are as follows:

1) WV Building Code Permit and Inspection Fee: A fee of 1% of the cost of construction will be charged for all projects requiring a WV Building Code inspection. The minimum charge will be $100 and the maximum fee will be $1,000.00. Take note that paying this fee will cover all other inspections.

2) Plan Review for Construction: A fee of $100.00 will be charged for all plan reviews.

3) Plan modifications or altered fees for second and subsequent review: A fee of $100.00 will be charged for any and all subsequent plan reviews.

(4) Inspection Fees:
a. Footers $50.00
b. Foundation $50.00
c. Rough Framing $50.00
d. Rough Mechanical $50.00
e. Insulation $50.00
f. Final Building Inspection $50.00
g. Plumbing Inspection $100.00
h. Electrical Service Inspection $100.00
i. Heating and Cooling $100.00
j. Swimming Pool $100.00
k. Failed inspections return for re-inspection fees $50.00 each.

Fees associated with Commercial Construction permitting are as follows:

1) WV Building Code Permit and Inspection Fee: A fee of 1% of the cost of construction will be charged for all projects requiring a WV Building Code inspection. The minimum charge will be $100 with no maximum fee for commercial structures.

2) Plan review: A fee of $200.00 will be charged for all plan reviews.

3) Plan modifications or altered fees for second review: A fee of $200.00 will be charged for any and all subsequent plan reviews.
(4) Inspections:
a. Footers $50.00
b. Foundation $50.00
c. Rough Framing $50.00
d. Rough Mechanical $50.00
e. Insulation $50.00
f. Final Building Inspection $50.00
g. Plumbing Inspection $200.00
h. Electrical Service Inspection $200.00
i. Heating and Cooling $200.00

(5) Demolition Permit Fee: For a permit for the demolition of a building or structure, the fee shall be $50.00.

New construction and significant renovations will require a permit within Welch’s city limits. Mayor McBride gave a few examples into how the process will work.

“Any type of construction period will need a permit,” said McBride. “I’ll give you an example, if you’re going to have a garage built, you hire a contractor. He comes and applies for a permit, giving us a design on it that will be approved.”

McBride also used the new Renaissance Village building as an example.

“For a construction like that, the building plan would have been approved first by the State Fire Marshal’s Office that would then be presented to us,” said McBride. “Then we would issue a permit and Mr. McKinney would inspect to ensure it was done up to that plan.”

McBride also said establishing the Building Code was needed to protect residents from poor jobs performed by uncertified contractors.

“I’ve seen it many times over the years when someone asks for help, and a contractor comes in without a license,” said McBride. “He might not understand what he’s doing and then the person ends up paying for the job twice. This stops that.”

Anyone being contracted to work on someone else’s property must be a certified contractor through the State of West Virginia.

“Is this for remodeling as well,” asked Jim Spence.

“Yes, any kind of construction,” said McBride.

“Now any repairs you make, say you’ve got a bad light to change out, that doesn’t apply,” said Bob McKinney. “But if you will install a new light, then you would need a permit. Anything that’s considered a repair would not require a permit.”

“Another thing, the homeowner can do their own work after getting a permit,” said McBride. “If you hire someone it will need to a certified contractor, but the homeowner can do their own work for themselves. If you want to build a garage, you can build your garage.”

“You can get someone that isn’t certified to work on it up to $2500,” said McKinney.

“That’s once per year,” said McBride.

“That’s right. They don’t have to necessarily be a contractor, but once it goes one dollar over the $2500, parts and labour, then they have to be a certified contractor,” said McKinney.

“That’s State Fire Marshal law,” said McBride.

Following the public hearing, the City Council voted to adopt an ordinance establishing the new Building Code within city limits of Welch.

Also at Monday’s City Council meeting:

• The City Council voted to change the full-time position of Director at the Jack Caffrey Arts and Cultural Center to a part-time position of Clerk.
• Hobart Street repairs have been made, expecting to be fully open this week.