The city’s new building inspector introduced himself to the community this week during the city council meeting. And he sent a firm declaration that he is ready to get down to business.
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen hired Arnold Woods on Jan. 13 with an annual salary of $61,000, based on the board minutes. The vital post has remained vacant since the resignation of Peter Gower several weeks ago.
During Monday’s open board meeting, Mayor David Starling said he is fully supportive of Woods and his recent actions concerning the city’s building and code enforcement office, adding that he will not interfere with Woods’ decisions.
“For far too long in Yazoo City, things have been allowed to go unchecked,” Starling said. “We have found someone who is making sure all the i’s are dotted, and the t’s are crossed. I am going to step out on a limb here and say that if Mr. Woods comes by your house, your business or anything that you are doing and there is a stop work order or he doesn’t feel that there are adequate plans or he isn’t able to pull a permit, please do not contact me.”
Starling added that it took the city council close to 11 months to find an experienced building inspector, adding that it is not an easy position to fill.
“One of our biggest components in finalizing Mr. Woods coming here was that he asked for our support,” Starling said. “There has been a lot of things that have slipped through the cracks because we did not have an adequate building inspector in place. We are here to support him, and we think he has been doing a good job. When you are used to doing things that have not been quite above board, it is uncomfortable when you must change. This board is 100 percent behind our building inspector and code enforcement officer.”
Woods introduced himself to the community during the open meeting, adding that he has already been on the move within Yazoo City.
“I have been riding and looking at a lot of cars in the driveways and beside houses,” Woods said. “They are going to have to be moved, one way or another. There is a lot of building going on that no permits have been made at all. When I run up on one, I’m going to stop. If they are doing additions, they are not only going to have to have a permit, but they are going to have to have a set of required plans. I have seen a lot of that going on, and I have stopped a lot of it.”
Moments before Woods’ introduction, a Yazoo City resident appeared before the city leaders during the public comment period of the meeting. Georgia Mills said she was given a stop work order by Woods for a project at 1519 Winterset Avenue.
“I just need to know when can construction can begin again,” she requested.
Starling told Mills that Woods would be reaching out to her contractor to ensure everything was being done properly.
