(A) The City Council shall have the authority to appoint a City Building Inspector. Such Building Inspector shall conduct surveys and make inspections in any area of the city to determine whether all buildings and structures are in compliance with the city ordinances. In the event that no Building Inspector is specifically appointed, the Utilities Superintendent shall be the ex officio Building Inspector with all of the rights, duties and responsibilities of the Building Inspector.
(B) He or she shall investigate all complaints whether they are verbal, written or in the form of a petition alleging and charging that a violation of the city ordinances exists and that a building or structure is unfit or unsafe for human habitation. The Building Inspector is authorized, upon properly identifying himself or herself, to enter, inspect, survey and investigate such structure between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., or at any time if an emergency exists or if requested by the owner or the occupant thereof.
(C) He or she shall keep records of all complaints received, inspection reports, orders and complaints issued. The records shall be available for public inspection, and he or she shall prepare an annual report, including statistics based on the records kept.
(D) The Building Inspector shall have no financial interest in the furnishing of labor, materials or appliances for the construction, alteration or maintenance of a building, except where he or she is the owner of a building, and he or she shall not act as an agent for any said dealer or as an agent for the sale, lease or rental of any real estate.
(E) The Building Inspector shall report to the City Council as often as it may deem necessary and shall have such other duties and issue such permits as it may direct. The Building Inspector may be removed by the City Council at any time for good and sufficient cause.
(Prior Code, § 1-211)