Department manger Ferrell Thigpen told the commissioners once he retires there is a strong possibility that no one in Duplin will be qualified to fill his place.
Thigpen, oversees Building Inspections for the county and has the highest level of certification possible in his field, a level three inspector. His two subordinate inspectors are level ones, and are years away from possibly becoming level three. However, after 22 years in service to Duplin, Thigpen is thinking of retiring.
“Depends how I feel as I go along,” said Thigpen, when asked about his retirement date. “I don’t know what date, ... probably within two years.”
Once Thigpen leaves, no one in the county will be able to do his job. The two inspectors are years away from obtaining the level three certifications. The potential problem Thigpen explained, once he leaves Duplin will be without a level three inspector. That means inspections of large buildings, such as Wal-Mart, would not be able to be inspected, and it takes a years to receive all the necessary training to become a level three.
The solution maybe to hire someone from outside the county’s department.
“It would take big bucks to get someone to move from one county to the other,” Thigpen told commissioners.
Low wages were attributed as leading up to the problem. County manager Mike Aldridge spoke to the panel saying that a pay grade is needed so employees can see a career path in Duplin, instead of training in Duplin and leaving for another area. Thigpen added that he lost 10 employees in the past 22 years, some went to Jones, some to Carteret — all for higher paying jobs.
“We train them, and they go somewhere else,” said chairman Cary Turner. “Yeap!” Thigpen quickly responded.
Commissioner David Fussell asked for how much more money they were leaving Duplin, the answer was $6,000 to $7,000 more in pay for the same job.
Inspections are needed for new construction, remodeling of a building, or any altercations, Thigpen said after the meeting. “You always need a level three, because you never know what is going to be built.”
No action was made by the board.
Building inspectors review electrical, plumbing and heating ventilating and air conditioning systems.
Michael Connolly can be reached at (910) 592-8137 ext. 120 or can be emailed at sicity@intrstar.net
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