The Town of Culver is now looking for a new building commissioner. Russ Mason is stepping down from the position at the end of the month to take a job elsewhere.
The town council formally accepted Mason’s resignation Tuesday and discussed how to proceed with finding a replacement. It was noted that Mason currently works three hours a day three days a week for a yearly salary of $10,000.
However, Marshall County’s new online permitting system allows permit fees to be paid and inspections to be scheduled without the need for Culver’s building commissioner to be involved. That’s expected to reduce significantly the workload associated with the job.
At the same time, though, Council President Ginny Bess Munroe wanted to make sure the building commissioner’s remaining duties don’t become a burden for other town employees. “I know sometimes there’s unusual circumstances and the permit isn’t filled out right away because it has to go to the plan commission or BZA or there’s some issue and that involves some study,” she said. “And then there’s other times where we need someone on site for something, whether it’s a sidewalk and if it’s compliant with our sidewalk rules or whatever the case is.” Council members also wanted to make sure that someone’s in place to help oversee the town’s upcoming affordable housing project.
In the end, the council decided to advertise for a new building commissioner with the same number of hours and the same pay level that currently exist. While the search is taking place, Town Manager Jonathan Leist will handle the duties of building commissioner, but is not expected to get any additional payment from the town.
During Monday’s meeting, Munroe publicly thanked Mason on the town’s behalf. “That is one job that I don’t think anyone has a full appreciation for, because Russ handled it very, very well,” she said. She cited Mason’s success in working not only with the town’s plan commission and board of zoning appeals, but also citizens and contractors.
