Interim Building Chief Takes Helm

The Grant Tolbert era officially ended Friday with the retirement of the Hernando County building director.

County commissioners at their meeting Tuesday read a resolution praising him for his "dedicated and exemplary service."

Tolbert will also get a check for $21,789, which represents the accrued vacation, sick and paid-time-off he accumulated in the past 18 years, according to the county HR department.

For 18 years, Tolbert guided the department ship, often traversing some rough waters with builders who sometimes complained of interminably long delays obtaining permits and the hassles of the permitting process.

But this week, a new man is at the helm: Jim Paleveda was tabbed by county commissioners to serve as interim director.

At least for the meantime.

The county is in the process of reorganizing many of its departments, and the building department is no exception.

In fact, while Paleveda will have the title of interim director, a development department management team will maintain the daily operations.

That team consists of Paleveda, the department office manager, deputy building official and finance specialist.

Paleveda is with Tampa-based Quorum Services, which has already been assisting the building department with commercial plan reviews and residential inspections.

According to the contract, Quorum will provide the county with the building official's services for a minimum of 24 hours per week, and charge $98 per hour.

That rate goes up to $147 an hour if Quorum works after normal business hours or on a Saturday or Sunday, according to the contract.

Quorum came on board about two years ago during the peak of the housing boom.

At the time, Tolbert said his department couldn't hire people fast enough so he contracted with two private firms - including Quorum - for building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical inspectors and plan examiners.

The real estate market downturn forced Tolbert to lay off personnel and drop one of those firms.

Dudley Hampton Jr., president of the Hernando Builders Association, said builders have had issues with the building department, but he bears no ill will toward Tolbert.

"Grant obviously had to meet his obligations as a building official and what's mandated by the state," Hampton said.

One of the things Hampton hopes Paleveda will continue is the monthly meetings with builders to address any of their concerns.

Opening the lines of communications and customer service are key to a good working relationship, he said.

Hampton said the building industry remains soft. To help keep afloat, he and other builders are doing remodeling projects and room additions.

Once the existing home inventory starts shrinking, the new home construction should rebound, he said.