Gurnee going online for building permits

Gurnee village officials hope an online system in the works makes it more convenient for residents and others to obtain building permits.

Village board trustees this week voted 5-0 in favor of spending $95,512 to purchase the necessary software from Crystal Lake-based Davenport Group. Officials said an annual maintenance fee of $14,327 won’t begin until 2013.

Mayor Kristina Kovarik said the software purchase for Gurnee’s community development department is part of an overall effort to make it easier for people to do business with the village through technology. Gurnee already offers residents the option of paying water bills online

“We’re bringing community development into the 21st century,” Kovarik said.

Community Development Director David Ziegler said the current process to obtain a building permit is paper-intensive for residents, businesses or contractors working for them.

Gurnee processes roughly 2,500 building permits annually, Ziegler said, with 80 percent issued to homeowners for remodeling and other projects. On a typical day, he said, village hall receives abut 30 visitors and 60 telephone calls regarding building permits.

By moving to the online system sometime this year, Ziegler said, the permitting process is expected to become easier for all involved. He said receiving more applications online will free community development employees for other jobs.

“I look at it as more of a benefit to residents, easing their tasks,” Ziegler told the village board.

Trustee Kirk Morris raised a concern about the ability to verify someone who seeks a building permit online for a certain address. Ziegler responded that a fraudulent effort ultimately wouldn’t make sense because payment is necessary before a permit is issued.

Ziegler said officials received positive feedback from other Illinois towns using Davenport Group’s community development software. For example, downstate Carbondale’s building permits, code enforcement and rental housing inspection program have been on Davenport’s system since 2009.

Ziegler said Gurnee will pay $24,000 of Davenport’s $95,512 from the 2011-12 fiscal year that ends April 30. He said the balance for the company will come from the 2012-13 budget that starts May 1.

Gurnee’s building permit software surcharge, which started last year, is on target to generate $20,000 by the time the current budget ends April 30, Ziegler said.