Building permit technicians among first in state to receive certification

Local News

July 12, 2007

By Amanda Shelby Picayune Item Thu Jul 12, 2007, 11:35 AM CDT

PICAYUNE — Two Pearl River County Permit Technicians with the Planning and Development Department have received International Code Council certification.

Ruth Preston and Victoria Pepitone had been studying for the certification exam since February. They took the exam on July 9, but it took about two weeks for them to receive the results.

“That was a long two weeks, but after we found out we had passed, it was like a weight was lifted off our shoulders,” Preston said.

Along with one technician in Vicksburg, they are the first people in the State of Mississippi to pass the International Code Council written examination for permit technicians.

When asked how it felt to be one of only three people in the state to have passed the exam, Pepitone, who has been with the county for just over a year, said, “It feels wonderful.”

Preston, whose first anniversary with the county falls at the end of July, said, “I was surprised when I learned I was one of only three. I’m humbled by it. I’m proud that we’ve accomplished this.”

The two-hour, 60-question exam covered material on four topics: Basic Code Enforcement, International Building Codes, Legal Aspects of Building Codes, and International Zoning.

“It (the exam) was difficult because it asked tricky questions. One word could change the meaning of the whole question. It was made to trip you up,” said Preston.

Julia Anderson, a planner with the Planning and Development Office, said the county hopes to have all technicians and inspectors certified within the next year. Having certified technicians and inspectors will lower insurance rates in the unincorporated areas of the county, Anderson said.

There is one other permit technician in the county who will take the exam at the end of this month, Anderson said.

County Chief Building Inspector Kirk Pichon said the building office currently has four inspectors, a plans examiner and a code enforcement officer that need certification. Each of these employees is in the process of earning certification, and some have already taken some of the examinations, but none of them have finished the entire course of exams.

There are four certification tests the inspectors must take, each with a residential level of certification. Pichon, who has 26 certifications, said the certification tests are very difficult, each one lasting approximately two hours.

The county also will be regularly rated by Mississippi State Rating Bureau according to the Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule , Anderson said. A major factor in this rating is the number of certified staff a building code program employs. The county currently is rated at one on a scale of one to 10, but the county hopes to be reevaluated once the employees receive their certifications and receive a higher rating after the reevaluation, Anderson said.

Text Only

Local News

Bar fight ends in man being run over
A bar fight Friday morning resulted in one man being run over by the other with a pickup truck.
The fight was reported to Picayune Police officers Friday morning at about 1:44 at the American Legion Hall on Union School Road, said Capt. Chad Dorn.

February 4, 2012
Arson suspected at possible murder site
Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department investigators suspect arson was involved in a structure fire that occurred at a home where James Raine was killed last year.
The home at 24 Emma Lane was the scene of what investigators believe was the murder of the 37-year-old Raine in October, 2011.

February 4, 2012 1 Photo
Inmate escapes leaving father’s wake
Johnny Hall Jr., 30, escaped from Mississippi Department of Corrections custody Friday afternoon while attending his father’s wake in Picayune.

February 4, 2012
Inmate escapes from funeral procession
State inmate Johnny Hall, Jr., escaped from two Wilkinson County Correctional Facility officers’ custody today at approximately 12:30 p.m. while being escorted from his father’s wake at the Picayune Funeral Home in Picayune, Miss.

February 3, 2012
REPAIRING GAS LEAK
Contract and city workers were at this gas leak on Beech Street installing a clamp.

February 3, 2012 1 Photo
CAMELLIA SHOW
The Poplarville Garden Club Community Camellia Show is today in the lobby of the Poplarville branch of Hancock Bank.

February 3, 2012 1 Photo
Local gas prices continue a gradual upward trend
From Monday to Thursday, the per gallon price of regular gasoline at RaceTrac jumped six cents, from $3.289 to $3.349. RaceTrac sets the pace in Pearl River County for the lowest posted price, and Wal-Mart and Bill’s Quick Stop at Mississippi Highway 43 and East Canal quickly follow.

February 3, 2012 1 Photo
StennisSphere closing
StennisSphere is closing it’s doors to make way for a new tourist attraction, and to help increase security at John C. Stennis Space Center. According to a press release from Stennis, the tourist attraction officially will close in mid February.

February 3, 2012
ENJOYING THE RAIN
These ducks weren’t phased by Wednesday’s rainy conditions.

February 2, 2012 1 Photo
Picayune featured in “Blondie” comic strip
Occupy Picayune?
All Mr. Dithers wants to see occupied is Dagwood’s desk chair.
That is part of the adventures of Dagwood Bumstead, which includes a mention of the City of Picayune in Friday’s “Blondie” comic strip, which appears in the Picayune Item as a daily feature.
Picayune’s mention in Friday’s strip that also is released in other publications gives Picayune a name recognition boost worldwide, says the artist who draws the feature, Frank Cummings, a former Picayune resident and former employee of the Picayune Item.

February 2, 2012 1 Photo
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Building permit technicians among first in state to receive certification

Site Map

Contact Us