UPDATE: The West Point City Council has just announced plans to outsource all new housing inspections to Charles Abbott Associates. This decision was made during Tuesday’s work session, where Community Development Director Dennis Dutton emphasized the city’s urgent need to streamline building inspections due to an overwhelming workload.
The council is set to vote on the amended contract on February 9, 2023, which will expand Charles Abbott Associates’ role to include inspections for single-family and duplex housing, as well as soil erosion assessments. Dutton pointed out that the current city building inspector has been “overloaded” with calls, making this change crucial for efficient operations.
The new agreement aims to enhance accessibility, with all inspection data stored in a user-friendly database for both city officials and the public’s open records requests. Dutton highlighted the benefits of outsourcing, noting that it would also allow the city to reduce costs and “give more money back to the community.”
In a related matter, council members discussed filling two positions for West Point on the Troup County Parks & Recreation Commission. They are actively seeking candidates from the community to serve three-year terms, with a deadline set for February 9.
During the meeting, Bill Sharp, owner of the Avenue E apartments that suffered a fire on January 12, expressed gratitude to the city for its swift relief efforts. He praised the fire department and the coordinated donations that helped displaced tenants. Sharp reassured the council that he plans to fully rebuild the apartments, stating, “Nobody got hurt, not even a scratch, and I really appreciate it.”
With the council’s upcoming vote, the community will be watching closely to see how these changes will improve housing inspection processes and support local development. Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
