Story Published:
Nov 6, 2007 at 9:09 AM CST
Story Updated:
Nov 6, 2007 at 10:39 AM CST
For some time Duluth has battled a perception of being a bad place to do business.
Now, the Chamber of Commerce says the perception has become reality for many of those trying to build anything from a hotel to a private deck.
I–Team reporter Barbara Reyelts tells us it's an issue that could play a major role in the upcoming mayoral election.
"Duluth is known as an anti-business community. I'd like to know what you as mayor would do, not only to change that attitude within city hall but as well as all of Minnesota?"
This was one of the first questions asked when a group of Duluth business people got together at a mayoral debate.
Uppermost in many minds was problems they've had obtaining building permits to remodel expand or build new.
Both mayoral candidates recognize this as a major problem.
"People who do a project, even when they build a home or build a business, say well this is the last time I'm going to do it in Duluth Minnesota and they go elsewhere,” said Charlie Bell, Duluth Mayoral Candidate.
"If a business person comes in to city hall and needs a permit and needs a variance they should be able to do so in a very straightforward and efficient manner,” said Don Ness, Duluth Mayoral Candidate.
From contractors and construction workers to homeowner's and do–it–yourselfers, complaints have been pouring in to city hall about the difficulties in obtaining building permits.
"That department needs an overhaul."
Andy Peterson of the Duluth area Chamber of Commerce says customer service is so slow and so bad that contractors and others are taking their business out of Duluth.
"They'll want to build a garage, want to build a house in the city of Duluth,” said Peterson. “They'll talk to the contractor and the contractor will say ‘where are you located; where do you want to build this.’ And they'll say Duluth they'll say thanks, but no thanks, they don't want the job."
It's a problem that cost "Women in Construction" thousands in lost revenue this past building season.
"This summer, when we were waiting on four permits, we had to wait anywhere from four to six weeks to get those permits and in the meantime I had to layoff eight of my employees,” said Michelle LeBeau, Women in Construction. “And this was in the height of building season when you should not be having to lay off your employees."
Bell says if he's elected restructuring the city building safety office will be among his top priorities.
"It's just a travesty, how this has been run."
Ness says he believes the problem is temporary due to the hiring freeze in City Hall during contract negotiations.
But he does agree there needs to be a change of attitude in City Hall.
"There needs to be a new culture of customer service in that office and make sure that the folks in that office understand that its their job to assist developers to have safe buildings and safe investment in the community of Duluth."
Ness's comments about safety allude to concerns that speeding up the permitting process could result in less than safe construction.
A concern many contractors say is offensive.
"The reality is that we build to code. It's required.
And then they have these very good inspectors that go out and inspect every process along the way to make sure that you're building to code."
Contractors told the I Team they believe this issue will play a pivotal role in who becomes Duluth's next mayor.
In Duluth, Barbara Reyelts, the Northland's NewsCenter.
