Elk Grove Village Community Development Department's Building Division earns accreditation from International Accreditation Service
The Elk Grove Village Building Division of the Community Development Department is the first in the state of Illinois to receive a Certificate of Accreditation by the International Accreditation Service, the village announced today. The division joins the top one percent of building divisions in the nation - an elite group of just 23 other building departments throughout the United States that have earned this honorable status.
The Elk Grove Village Building Division is committed to providing exceptional service and education to the community through collaboration, optimization of best practices and compassion. The Building Division is responsible for the review and approval of design drawings and enforcement of building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, accessibility and energy codes associated with private construction. They also ensure compliance with the Zoning Ordinance and Property Maintenance Code.
The Building Division began preparing for the accreditation process in 2020. The process includes a thorough third-party review of all its processes and procedures and internal efforts to enhance the work it does in order to meet high accreditation standards.
"Our Community Development Department and Building Divisions are always trying to find better ways to serve the public, streamline operations and reduce the red tape residents and businesses face when seeking permits and other services," said Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson. "This accreditation demonstrates our commitment to constant improvement so that we can serve the public in the most effective and efficient way we can. I congratulate the Buildings Division on achieving elite status and for the leadership it has demonstrated throughout this process."
Achieving accreditation requires that an organization establish long-term quality management systems and service goals focused on continual improvement. As part of the process, the International Accreditation Service (IAS) performed a rigorous four-day assessment where it evaluated the Building Division based on more than a dozen categories. The evaluators also evaluated the division's customer service, technical competence, code interpretation and fiscal health.
"Achieving the status of an accredited agency can be directly attributed to the emphasis the department puts on providing the best and most efficient services to the community. The IAS accreditation program has allowed us to continue to build on and develop new and improved processes that both the village and community can be truly proud of," said Elk Grove Village Director of Community Development Jared Polony. "We strive to maintain the highest level of professionalism and partnership with our stakeholders to meet the needs of the community."
As part of the accreditation process, the Building Division will undergo a review 18 months after the initial accreditation and be reassessed through the full accreditation renewal process every three years. The renewal process helps the department continuously evaluate their service goals and best practices as well as current trends and methods associated with the construction industry.
"The staff's commitment to providing high quality professional services, along with service goals and audit procedures to document actual services as compared to the stated goals, makes Elk Grove Village an ideal model for other building departments in Illinois," said Mike Bouse, an IAS assessment team leader, following the four-day onsite assessment.
The IAS is a nonprofit, public-benefit corporation that has been providing accreditation services since 1975. IAS accreditation programs are based on recognized national and international standards that ensure domestic and/or global acceptance of its accreditation.