Mayor Doug England has tapped New Albany native David Brewer to fill the building commissioner slot for the city.
Brewer, age 36, graduated from New Albany High School in 1991, owned David Brewer Construction from 2000 to 2007 and most recently worked for the Southern Indiana rental housing outfit Neace Properties.
Deputy Mayor Carl Malysz had been filling in as building commissioner after Ron Hartman was reassigned to code enforcement last summer.
“We need to bring this office into the 21st century,” Brewer said. “We have antiquated systems and procedures. I intend to upgrade the computer hardware and software and institute systems that are user friendly not only to the staff but, also, the construction industry.”
Better accounting methods were recommended by the State Board of Accounts, after the agency’s 2008 audit of the city found building permit fees were not charged in some cases.
New Albany is also in the midst of a battle to cleanup dilapidated structures around the city — a chore that will now be headed by Brewer.
“My administration has been ratcheting up code enforcement activities since day one. David’s experience and expertise with home remodeling and rental property management makes him an excellent candidate to focus on the rental housing stock of our central city neighborhoods,” Mayor Doug England said.
Brewer came highly recommended with endorsements from builders and city officials such as Terry Ginkins and Lamar Dowell, England said.
“Brewer is an excellent choice,” said Ginkins, who is a former city building commissioner and a current member of the New Albany Redevelopment Commission.
“David is a notch above,” said Lamar Dowell, owner of New Albany Heating and Air and a member of the New Albany Building Commission.
Brewer will head a commission staff of five employees, which includes two building inspectors and two concentrated code enforcement officers. He is married with three children and currently lives in Georgetown, though he noted he would like to move back to New Albany soon.
Floyd County
Related Photos
-
Staff photo by Daniel Suddeath
Discussion
Brewer takes over building commissioner post
New Albany native has worked in construction for 18 years
- Floyd County
-
-
Flash flood warning issued for Clark and Floyd Counties
-
Money for miles: More states looking to tolls to pay for highways
Toll prices will fluctuate depending on traffic density. If toll lanes are crowded, prices will keep rising until enough motorists decide to remain in the slower lanes. The aim is to give motorists a way to travel quickly, but only if they are willing to pay for it — an idea that has stirred controversy.
-
Memorial Day 2012
- News and Tribune briefs for May 29, 2012
-
Sweat Equity
-
Lugar says he won’t campaign for Mourdock
Lugar issued a statement chastising Mourdock for his unwillingness to compromise after the tea party favorite soundly beat him in the May 8 primary election.
-
SWEET TREAT: Volunteers see the attraction of annual Starlight Strawberry Festival
-
Board chair: Parks district best solution for New Albany and Floyd County
Mayor Jeff Gahan’s veto of a new parks deal between the city and county was upheld earlier this month by the New Albany City Council. While the Floyd County Council agreed to still pay an additional $100,000 toward the parks department for the remainder of the year, the city and county remain under a prior agreement that led to funding discrepancies in the past.
-
THE 'V' WORD: SUB: Prosser Career Education Center moves away from stigma of ‘vocational’ school
- TARC sets Memorial Day and Kennedy Bridge route changes
- More Floyd County Headlines
-
Flash flood warning issued for Clark and Floyd Counties
