First of all, I would like to thank Rob Mierau for his twenty years of service to the community as an officer for the Beatrice Police Department and as Community Development Director. Rob has departed civil service and joined the private sector. We wish him well.
As the banner states, the Community Development Department is under construction. In August 2022, we added Nick Podany to the team as a second Code Compliance Officer. Nick has been doing double duty at the front desk handling permits and fielding phone calls. In the aftermath of the hailstorm, Nick quickly became proficient in handling roofing permits. He processed the bulk of the more than 2,000 roofing permits as well as doing some of the mid-roof inspections. Hannah Bradney joined us recently to take over the Administrative Assistant position. Hannah will be handling permit applications, zoning questions, complaints, and trying to keep Nick and me in line and on schedule. Good luck with the last one, Hannah.
Finally, there’s me. I have been promoted to the Community Development Director position from my previous role as Code Compliance Officer. As Code Compliance Officer my guidebook was the 44-page International Property Maintenance Code book. Add to that, Legal Aspects of Code Enforcement, an understanding of First Amendment and Fourth Amendment rights and Municipal Code, and – voila – right into my comfort zone.
With the new position, I am tasked with gaining certifications in the International Residential Code, International Building Code, International Existing Building Code, International Plumbing Code, International Mechanical Code, International Energy Efficiency Code, and a few others. Goodbye, comfort zone. The IRC book alone is 1,108 pages. I have my work cut out for me. I am under construction and have a lot to learn.
Bear with us as we get up to speed. I am learning. My team is learning. We will strive to do our best to provide great customer service to our citizens. We will do our best to answer questions and process requests as quickly as possible.
Chet McGrury
Community Development Director