The meeting was called to order at 2:30 p.m. by President Mel Zent. Executive members present were President Mel Zent, Vice President Chris Rose, Secretary/Treasurer Ray Ziegler, and Past President Mark Lang.
Rich Barta made a motion to accept the minutes of the October 22, 2003, meeting. Ron Strand asked for a correction that the final action hearings will be held on May 17-20, 2004, in Overland Park, Kansas. Chris Rose stated she will make the correction and give it to Ray Ziegler. Rich Barta made a motion to accept the minutes with the correction, and Ron Strand seconded.
OLD BUSINESS
Mel Zent stated the fall seminar will be held in Dickinson, North Dakota, October 13-15, 2004. Recommendations are needed from the floor about a topic for the seminar. Ray Ziegler suggested having representatives from companies to do some speaking; and stated it should be kept code specific and address certain chapters of the code. Most companies do a great job of making sure their products meet code requirements.
A suggestion was made by Mel Zent to have a one-day seminar on code issues and gather presentations that could relate for the next day or we could do a two-day seminar. Ray Ziegler suggested that the Attorney General, or an attorney that deals with liability issues, could be asked to talk about inspector’s liability. Don Offerdahl suggested the legal people should have real liability stories and ask how to handle the liability issues.
Mel Zent stated the Board could put something together and go with a one-day classroom training and another day to open it up to other fields.
Chris Rose suggested having one day on liability and one day on product information.
Mel Zent stated this could be left open and the Executive Committee can decide the topics.
NDBOA WEB SITES
Ray Ziegler suggested having links to other sites such as to the League of Cities www.ndlc.org , Home Builders Association www.bmhba.com , Department of Commerce www.ndcommerce.com , International Code Council (ICC) www.iccsafe.org , and the North Dakota State Electrical Board www.ndseb.com . The regional people are to look into cities in their area that have a website.
NEW BUSINESS
Public Relations Compaign or Building Safety Week – Mel Zent stated that $1,600 was spent on our Building Safety Week last year, and we are looking at that amount and an addition $100 per region totaling $2,000 this year. We are going to have radio campaigns and Doug Lalim agreed to coordinate that with our area representatives. Doug will send the information to the area directors. We will also allow monies for materials to be handed out on the local level.
SUMMER EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Mel Zent stated we are looking at June 22, 2004, in Bismarck, North Dakota, in connection with the Building Advisory Meeting.
LEGISLATIVE ISSUES
Mel Zent stated the association needs to be aware of the bills that will be presented at the upcoming legislative session. There are going to be some bills that our Association will have to address.
2003 ICC CODE ADOPTION
Rich Gray stated April 30, 2004, is the deadline for submitting amendments. October 1, 2004, is the target date to update the 2003 codes. The Industrialized Buildings Commission is using the third-party inspection program. The third parties are doing their job inspecting out-of-state buildings, and Don Offerdahl from the State Electrical Board discovered some of the electrical boxes are not UL Listed. These labels shall be permanently attached with the certification label located in the kitchen sink base cabinet, master bedroom closet, or base of the electrical panel. In commercial buildings the listing tends to be located near the building entrance. The amendments are no good unless you have actually adopted the State Building Code. The law got written to state that it will go with local amendments to the State Building Code.
Don Offerdahl asked if we can enforce these amendments according to a particular city. Rich Gray said yes. Can we charge fees as if they were building it in our jurisdiction? Rich Gray said yes. Rich Gray stated if yo have any local amendments, it is necessary to submit them by July 1, 2004. If you adopt the State Building Code, those amendments will be accepted and sent to the manufacturers.
Mel Zent stated that Rich Barta will investigate the cost of hiring a lobbyist and report to the members of the Executive Committee.
Don Offerdahl stated that the lobbyist will take care of tracking all of the bills that are coming in and issue weekly reports. There could be a possibility of sharing the cost of a lobbyist with the State Electrical Board.
Mel Zent stated the Executive Board discussed the purchase of more pins. The Secretary of State was notified of the position of Ray Ziegler as Secretary/Treasurer. The spring meeting of 2005 is tentatively set for the 2nd week of March 2005 in Fargo, North Dakota.
Joel Aslakson, a computer software programmer, offered to demonstrate his software program for sharing records in the field and in the office for inspectors.
Rich Barta made a motion to adjourn. Jon Benz seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 3:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted:
Ray Ziegler
Secretary/Treasurer, NDBOA