Phillips building a better Madison

Safety—that is the number one responsibility of the city’s Building Department, according to Certified Building Official (CBO) Cody Phillips.

The 16 people who work in the department, “bend over backwards” to serve the residents of Madison to the highest potential, Phillips said.

As director of the department, he oversees issuances of residential and commercial permits, construction plans, codes and regulations and inspections, as well as the oversight of maintenance of city hall and the Madison Public Library.

“What we do is a big value to the community in the sense that our main concern is the safety and welfare of the community,” Phillips said. “We look to see if buildings and homes are safe for the people and also make sure the sanitary conditions are right.”

The department consists of three divisions: permitting, building services and inspections and code enforcement, which keep regulations and maintenance in the city up to date.

The permitting division, supervised by Beverly Storm, receives permit applications for residential and commercial properties and submits plans for review and approval to the inspections and enforcement division, headed by Deputy Building Official James (Jimmy) Morgan. That department then reviews those applications, and if approved, a permit is issued and onsite inspections are performed by building inspectors. That division has four building inspectors and two code enforcement officers that implement city ordinances and deal with “nuisances,” which, Phillips said, could be any complaint from overgrown grass to abandoned houses or buildings.

Other city departments are responsible for zoning and drainage requirements.

Phillips’ department is responsible for making sure future and existing properties meet the required code compliances all the way down to how the building is framed and the foundation on which the structure will be built.

“One of the biggest investments someone could make is their house,” he said. “So, it’s important that we do our job and make sure that the house is going to be there and last a long time without any major worries.”

The department has already inspected and reviewed codes for the new area YMCA, and Phillips said they are in the process of issuing the remaining permit for the new Madison Hospital.

Phillips has only been in this position for three years, but has extensive work experience in the field.

A native of Bay Minette, Phillips served 21 years in the Army, where he worked as an ammunition officer, specializing in weapons of mass destruction.

After he retired from the armed forces, he worked as a building inspector for Baldwin County and four years as the building and zoning administrator in Spanish Fort. He moved to Rock Hill, S.C. for seven years, where worked as the deputy building official and plans examiner.

He relocated to Madison with his wife, Angela, to be closer to his ill mother-in-law.

“Madison is great, a growing city,” he said. “When I look at Madison, I think we are right at a point in growth with great potential. We have all the amenities anyone could need and Mayor Finley has increased the quality of life for all citizens.”

Phillips said long-term goals for the department are to implement the 2006 International Residential Building Code and 2009 International Building set of codes, form a committee to evaluate and recommend improvements to code enforcement procedures, compliance and enforcement and conduct a quarterly assessment of all city-owned building to determine future maintenance needs.

He also said the city is starting a “Building in Madison” class in November for residents who want to learn more about permitting, hiring contractors, building codes and other areas of interest in the department. The class is open to the public and seating is limited. For more information, call 256-772-5635.

“It’s important that people understand that we are here for them,” he said. “We are here as servants for the city.”