Technology is going to make building code inspections simpler for Moore County contractors and residents beginning in October. The North Carolina Code Officials Qualification Board recently approved a list of live remote inspections.
Live inspections utilize a smartphone or another handheld device to allow a permit holder to show and demonstrate code compliance without requiring a trip for the inspector said Planning and Inspections Director Debra Ensminger to the county commissioners Tuesday.
The use of the live reports inspections is voluntary, and the permit holder must follow specific directions from the inspector.
The following is a list of currently approved inspections that can be done remotely:
- Sewer and water trench inspections up to 100 feet – Rough-in Plumbing (partial inspection).
- Shower pan inspection – Rough-in Plumbing (partial inspection).
- Residential porch columns – Building Framing (partial inspection).
- PV solar residential rooftop systems – Rough-in Electrical.
- Manufactured Home Marriage line connection – Final Set-up inspection.
Re-inspections can also be done via remote inspections for up to four non-life safety code violations. The only re-inspections permitted are to review an existing violation. No first-time inspections are allowed. The program is expected to soft launch this October.
In other Moore County Board of Commissioners meeting discussions, Pat Corso, Executive Director of Moore County Partners in Progress, requested the county to become a co-applicant on a grant application for a Feasibility Study for an Entrepreneurship Hub.
The market analysis is a comprehensive assessment of Moore County’s countywide entrepreneurial ecosystem to identify its scope, characteristics, assets/strengths, gaps/weaknesses, etc. The data from this analysis will be used in a feasibility study to determine the viability of and opportunities for establishing an entrepreneurial hub facility in Moore County.
The goal of the program is to establish projects that will specifically help mitigate the adverse effects of Hurricane Florence and promote general economic recovery, resiliency, and diversification for Moore County communities.
Due to Moore County’s status as a disaster area following last year’s hurricane, the grant provides an 80/20 match to cover the $100,000 cost. This will be a two to three-year process and is dependent on the approval of the grant request. The commitment from the county will not exceed $20,000, and if the application is denied the county will have no financial liability.
Commissioner Louis Gregory told Corso, “I am very pleased with the thought and time that went into this proposal. Economic growth will bring new jobs to Northern Moore County, which is desperately needed.”
The board approved the motion unanimously.
Additionally, the commissioners approved the purchase of six replacement vans for $374,000. Ninety percent of the funding will be covered by the federal and state governments, with the remaining 10 percent being paid for by the county.
The next regularly scheduled Board of Commissioners meeting is October 1.
~Written by Sandhills Sentinel Local News/Government Reporter Chris Prentice.
Contact him at [email protected] or (910) 639-9303.
