by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
When it comes to administration and management, it often makes sense to do what’s called “think outside the box.”
In the case of Clerk of the Courts’ new satellite office at the Ed Ball Building, that phrase could be modified to “think outside the Courthouse.”
For years, people who work in the building trades could simply walk across Market Street when they had to obtain a building permit at the City Hall Annex and then have a document such as a notice of commencement recorded at the Clerk of the Courts Office in the County Courthouse. When the City moved the Building Division of the Planning & Development Department to the Ed Ball Building on Hogan Street, a short stroll turned into a six-block journey to connect a construction permit with its recording in the Clerks Office.
That changed Oct. 29 when the Clerk of the Courts opened the first satellite office of its kind in the City Permit Processing Facility on the second floor of the Ed Ball Building.
The facility consolidates City services related to the building trades including building permits, inspections, zoning and recording. There’s even a Tax Collectors Office branch location.
“It’s all about convenience,” said Jim Fuller, Clerk of the Courts. He also said setting up the office was done at a cost of “next to nothing.”
“We said if we could just have the space we could do it. We even found desks and chairs we could use that were already in the building,” said Fuller. “All we had to do was connect the terminals to our main office at the Courthouse and we were in business. The computer doesn’t know or care where the terminals are located.”
John Graham owns AA Roofing and said he has been coming Downtown for permits for three years. When the operation moved to the Ed Ball Building, he said the location was not very convenient compared to having the permitting and recording offices across the street from each other.
“I was having to park twice and pay twice,” said Graham. “Being able now to get all the permits and notices of commencement done in one place is great. It saves me at least an hour every time I have to come here to do the paperwork and that means I have more time on the job site.”
In its first 10 days in operation, the satellite office recorded 352 documents. Fuller said that gives the added benefit of making lines shorter and therefore the process faster for customers who come to the main office at the Courthouse on Bay Street. He also said having the additional location near Hemming Plaza also makes it convenient for people to record documents other than those associated with building permits. Those who work Downtown can also come to the office to record mortgages, deeds and titles.
“My goal as Clerk is to make things easier for the people who use our services. The goal is always to help people save time and make the process more convenient for our customers. Anything you can do at our main office you can now do at the Ed Ball Building,” said Fuller.
Another service improvement that will be implemented is also based on feedback and requests from customers. Effective Dec. 4, the Permit Processing Facility will be open for business Mon.-Fri. from 7 a.m.-4 p.m. to allow builders, contractors and property owners to begin the permitting and recording process an hour earlier than the current schedule of 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
For more information, visit the Planning & Development Department’s home page at www.coj.net.