How long is it taking to get a building permit now

[KeaauRich]

Donovan also is pretty good about checking and responding to emails -- and this from an owner, not a builder.

[TrevorKane]

People generally hate it when you inform their boss that they are doing a bad or slow job... so, if you want the building department to hate you, by all means call the Mayor every single time you call them. It will probably get your permit looked at faster...

[Kapohocat]

I respectfully disagree with you on this one. The Building Dept has for too long have kept people "frightened" to say anything with this exact kind of rumor.

I went up against them on a client's permit fines and just figured since the fee was reduced forever my name would be mud. For a little while it was I guess, but now things have more than returned to normal. And 10 weeks for approval in my mind does in fact deserve a visit or call to at least the supervisor at a minimum.

[lquade]

keaaurich: where did you find donovans email address?? i didnt think any of them used email although it would be so much easier to explain things...[?]

[KeaauRich]

Donovan's email is DAkau@co.hawaii.hi.us

I'm not sure where I got it, but it was from a public source -- maybe even from him on a business card or something. And in any event, I was told by someone in the planning office that the county convention for email addresses is first initial of the first name and then the entire last name@co.hawaii.hi.us. So Jane Doe would be Jdoe@co.hawaii.hi.us There are a few exceptions to the rule (duplicate names, for example) but I'm sure all the duplicate name people know each other and will forward your note and/or tell you the right address. That's how it worked when I worked for the megacorp - my duplicate named colleagues all thought I had the most interesting job based on the weird emails I got - and judging from the notes that were wrongly addressed to me, they were absolutely right!

[lquade]

wow thank you keaaurich!!![] i like email because it seems like the only way to get a response in writing if you need it later. that is really grand! although i must agree, donovan has been great in answering phone calls and responding to questions. so far it has been an easy process and we are down to the final coming up soon..

[jerry]

Does the email convention work for Kona? I have had limited contact with the Kona office. Once when I asked for voice mail I was told they did not have answering machines.

Email also gives you a written record, which is sometimes useful.

jerry

[KeaauRich]

My understanding is that it is the county-government-wide standard, but I'm not gonna bet my next mortgage payment on it. It doesn't cost anything to give it a try in any case...

[TrevorKane]

I'm not saying that bringing the Mayor in is the wrong thing to do, just that it won't make you popular with the people who you do it to. If the Mayor really will ride the staff and make them do their jobs better, then bringing him in is the right thing to do.

I have brought the Schoolboard in on school Principals before, they hated me for it, and also started doing what they were required to do under law. I have two kids, it didn't really help the first one (who the complaint was directly about) - but in the end it didn't hurt him any more than taking no action. His younger brother has been 100% better off because of our wave making.

[David M]

I say ride the Mayor, not the workers. If people have been reassigned for a mayoral special project and that impedes the system, then his excellency needs to beheld accountable.
Most times, worker bees don't like being used as pawns..

David

Ninole Resident