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Building Commissioner |
Tom Harp, Building Commissioner
I consider it a privilege to serve the citizens of the City of Peru as the "Building Commissioner." Having been a resident and business man of the Miami County area all my life I feel this is a way I can give something back.
I have a wonderful family, my wife of 26 years Carol, who I wouldn’t trade for the world, two grown sons, Adam 25, and his wife Kristin and my first granddaughter Aubrey J, and Isaac 21.
I feel I have a lot to offer the community and bring to this position because of my 30 plus years in the building trades. My experience in the building trades covers a broad spectrum and many venues of, Industrial and Commercial as well as Residential and Agricultural, construction. My knowledge and experience also includes formal education in mechanical & architectural drafting, along with state certification in laser instrument technologies as well as road construction.
I started my career in the construction industry doing menial labor. Before long I was doing carpenter work and managing crews. At the ripe old age of 18, I built my first house. In 1978 I started a general contracting business, operating that for 25 years, serving Miami and surrounding counties.
What does a "Building Commissioner" do any way, you may ask? My job is to manage the day to day tasks of the "Department of Building Safety" for the City of Peru. The department consists of:
Plan review
Applications for the construction or renovation of all buildings, new and existing.
Issuing building permits
Inspection of new and existing building
Inspection of all building construction
Code education and enforcement
Connecting the public with other government agencies
Working directly with FEMA, SEMA and the DNR
Closely working with local government city and county
Public complaints concerning building health and safety issues
Zoning
These are but a few of the things we do.
I count it a privilege to serve this community, and look forward to the challenges that lie ahead. As we move forward let us work together to make this a better community. I know I will strive to do the best I can as the City of Peru’s "Building Commissioner."