(A) Creation of office of Village Inspector; duties.
(1) The office of Village Inspector is hereby created, and the executive official in charge shall be known as the Village Inspector.
(2) The Village Inspector shall be appointed by the Village Board and shall serve at the pleasure of the Village Board.
(3) During the long-term absence or disability of the Village Inspector, the appointing authority shall designate an acting Village Inspector.
(4) To be eligible for appointment, the candidate for the position of Village Inspector shall have had experience or training in building or construction. He or she shall be in good health and physically capable of making the necessary examinations and inspections. He or she shall not have any interest, directly or indirectly, in the sale or manufacture of any material, process or device entering into or used in or in connection with building construction, alteration, removal and demolition.
(5) The Village Inspector shall receive applications required by this chapter and the building codes as adopted in Chapter 150, issue permits and furnish the prescribed certificates. The Inspector shall examine premises for which permits have been issued and shall make necessary inspections to see that the provisions of law are complied with and that construction is prosecuted safely. He or she shall enforce all provisions of this chapter and the building codes adopted in Chapter 150. When requested by proper authority, or when the public interest so requires, the Inspector shall make investigations in connection with matters referred to in this chapter and the building codes adopted in Chapter 150 and render written reports on the same. In order to enforce compliance with law, to remove illegal or unsafe conditions, to secure the necessary safeguards during construction or to require adequate exit facilities in buildings and structures, the Village Inspector shall issue such notices or orders as may be necessary.
(6) Inspections required under the provisions of this chapter and the building codes adopted in Chapter 150 shall be made by the Village Inspector or his or her duly appointed assistant. The Village Inspector or his or her duly appointed assistant may accept reports of inspectors of recognized inspection services, after investigation of their qualifications and reliability. No certificate called for by any provision of this chapter or the building codes adopted in Chapter 150 shall be issued on such reports unless the same are in writing and certified to by a responsible officer of such service.
(7) The Village Inspector shall keep comprehensive records of applications, of permits issued, of certificates issued, of inspections made, of reports rendered and of notices or orders issued pursuant to this chapter or the building codes adopted in Chapter 150. The Inspector shall retain on file copies of required plans and all documents relating to building work so long as any part of the building or structure to which they relate may be in existence.
(8) All such records shall be open to public inspection for good and sufficient reason at the stated office hours but shall not be removed from the office without the Village Inspector’s written consent.
(9) The Village Inspector shall make written reports to the Village Board once each month, or more often if required, including statements of permits and certificates issued and orders promulgated.
(10) The Village Inspector shall also have such duties as are specified elsewhere in Chapter 91 and Chapter 150 and as may be provided for from time to time by the Village Board.
(11) The Village Inspector may request and shall receive, so far as may be necessary in the discharge of his or her duties, the assistance and cooperation of other officials of the village.
(B) Right of entry. The Village Inspector, in the discharge of his or her official duties, and upon proper identification, shall have authority to enter any building, structure or premises at any reasonable hour. No person shall refuse the Village Inspector or any of his or her authorized agents such entry.
(Ord. 264, passed 8-2-2022) Penalty, see § 10.99