Dickinson building permits more than double '09 numbers

• Image

Press Photo by Ashley Martin Workers are busy Saturday constructing this building on First Street West. It is one of several buildings being constructed in Dickinson.

Talk about it

Building in Dickinson is on the rise and nearly three times more building permits have been issued this year compared to last year, city officials say.

City officials are even looking into hire another inspector just to keep up.

“We’re covering all areas of Dickinson with our building,” said Mel Zent, city senior code enforcement officer/building official. “It’s not just localized in one area.”

Shawn Soehren, city engineer, said permit numbers haven’t looked like this for 30 or 40 years and even then it wasn’t this high.

“Since 2003, every year our numbers have just been increasing,” he said.

Most of the structures being built are single-family homes, but there are multifamily and commercial structures going up as well, according to city figures.

Commercial structures are being built in specific areas, Zent said.

“They’re within our industrial parks and our commercial-zoned districts and you’re going to find those on the west and east ends of our city,” Zent said.

The permit values have increased as well, said Gaylon Baker, executive vice president of Stark Development Corp.

“It’s economic development showing results, is what it is,” Baker said. “We’re seeing the investment that we’ve made in the economy over the years bearing fruit.”

Soehren said some building may be replacing structures lost in a tornado last July, but it may also be because of a population increase.

“We are a growing community,” Zent said.

Five commercial building permits were issued by the end of June, but more are expected, including a motel on the north end of town.

Not only are area builders keeping busy, but city officials are working hard to keep up with them, Zent said.

“To say the least, we are swamped,” Zent said.

He is glad another inspector will be hired soon.

“It’s well overdue,” Zent said. “I’m looking forward to getting that person on staff and getting that individual up to speed.”

Permits issued

July 2010 2009

Commercial 1 5 12

Public 0 3 0

Single family 11 49 19

Multi-family 6 19 2

Miscellaneous 0 1 0

Total 18 77 33

Tags: mel zent, gaylon baker, shawn soehren, news, local, construction