Grapevine approves contract for third-party building inspectors to fill vacancies

The city of Grapevine is hiring an outside contractor to help provide building inspection services.

During the Nov. 1 Grapevine City Council meeting, a contract with SAFEbuilt was approved with an annual estimated cost of $120,000 on an as-needed basis.

Grapevine City Manager Bruno Rumbelow said this contract is to help fill vacancies within the building services department.

“It is a matter of getting fully staffed,” he said. “The market is tight. We’ve been advertising, and we’ve been offering bonuses, and we are still short.”

Rumbelow noted the city has spots for six inspectors, and two of them are vacant, which this contract will help fill. Once the city is able to fill the open spots, this contract will end.

The city of Keller has a similar agreement with SAFEbuilt, which is based in Loveland, Colorado, and provides services in 28 different states.