Keystone COG inspectors address complaints in Selinsgrove

Mar. 5—SELINSGROVE — Central Keystone Council of Governments Director Rodney Nietz appeared before the Selinsgrove Borough Council on Monday to address concerns about building codes enforcement.

Selinsgrove is among 49 Valley municipalities that contract with the Lewisburg-based CK-COG to enforce its building codes.

Speaking to the council late last year, architect and Selinsgrove resident Rocky Baer said inspectors from the agency are sometimes difficult to work with and end up being more costly and suggested the borough allow for a state-certified third-party inspector to be used in the event a second opinion is wanted.

Responding to Nietz on Monday, council President Richard Mease said he had no issues with how CK-COG does business but asked if Nietz had any concerns since the agency's plan to allow building inspectors with valid concealed carry permits to be armed for safety reasons was quashed in December. The agency's insurance carrier threatened to drop liability coverage unless they ceased the practice.

Without elaborating, CK-COG building codes enforcement Supervisor James Emery said there "was an issue in the past" but it has been resolved.

Council member Scott Frost had questions about fees charged to property owners for mandated inspections and council member Bobbie Owens suggested borough and CK-COG officials should meet to discuss the municipality's current needs.

"What can we do better," Owens said.

Property owner Michael Savidge said his interactions with CK-COG inspectors have been positive and as owner of 168 rental units who has worked with building inspectors from other agencies, he would recommend the Lewisburg agency over all others.

"I feel this is a bit of a witch hunt against them," he said of the complaints against CK-COG.

Mease and Selinsgrove Borough Manager Lauren Mertz agreed with Savidge that having one certified building inspector provides continuity to better serve the public.

Mertz said she's worked with other code enforcement professionals and said CK-COG "is really the best. Every time we've had an issue we've worked it out."

Responding to Savidge's comments, Helen Walter, president of the Selinsgrove Chamber of Commerce, said there is no "witch hunt" and that complaints about Central Keystone COG were never intended to remove them from doing business in the municipality.

"I think (Savidge) was kind of missing the point," Walter said, referring to Baer's comments regarding CK-COG inspections and wanting the choice of a second opinion by a certified inspector.

In a prior interview with The Daily Item, Nietz said the contract CK-COG has with all municipalities prohibits the use of another building inspector.

Selinsgrove Solicitor Robert Cravitz said a third-party inspection is permitted under the borough's ordinance as long as certain requirements are met, including the property owner pays for a second inspection and uses a state-certified inspector with results reviewed by CK COG.