Pueblo Regional Building Department (PRBD) officials and area builders presented the agency’s staffing, inspection practices and customer-service record to the Pueblo West Metropolitan District Board of Directors on Monday as the district considers what agency should provide building-inspection services now that Pueblo County has terminated its agreement with PRBD.

PRBD Chief Building Official Mark Guerrero described PRBD as a self-supporting entity funded by permit revenue and operated for 42 years by a commission with city and county appointees. Guerrero said PRBD employs certified inspectors, plan reviewers and support staff and that about 40% of PRBD employees live in Pueblo West. Local homebuilders and contractors, including Nick Pannunzio of Premier Homes and Dustin Jones of Drop Tine Construction, told the board that PRBD’s next-day inspections and in-person support have been essential to project scheduling and helped builders deliver homes and manage costs.

“Regional building has been the inspector in all of Pueblo County for all that time, which makes it pretty seamless,” Guerrero said, describing PRBD’s record of same- or next-day inspections when requests are submitted early. Pannunzio and Jones said the speed and availability of PRBD inspectors are key to maintaining construction timelines and providing confidence to buyers and self-builders.

Guerrero outlined PRBD’s internal organization: licensed plan reviewers, inspectors who were previously contractors, trade-specific master inspectors and an IT team. He said PRBD performs roughly 36,000–40,000 inspections per year and emphasized the agency’s use of online inspection records so the public can look up an address and see inspection history.

Board members asked about accountability and governance after learning the county had ended its IGA with PRBD. Guerrero said PRBD is governed by a nine-member commission with appointments from the city and county, and he said the commission receives monthly budget and outreach reports. He also said PRBD has negotiated memoranda of understanding and work with other jurisdictions, citing an MOU to perform plan review for a $35 million school project outside the county.

Legal and operational questions surfaced during board discussion. Directors asked whether Pueblo West could enter an intergovernmental agreement directly with PRBD and who would have legal authority to do so. General counsel Carl Cooney advised the board he would research whether the district has legal authority to enter an independent IGA and report back. Directors also requested that PRBD provide its standard IGA terms so the board could compare options.

Several directors said they wanted a timely legal opinion about whether Pueblo West can enter its own IGA or must default to county services; District Manager said staff would seek that answer “next week” and, if feasible, bring a comparative proposal or work-session item to the next agenda. Director Chris Roberts asked that any PRBD proposal be compared “apples to apples” with the county’s offer.

PRBD staff described some modernization initiatives, including remote or photo-based inspections in limited cases (for example, accepting a photo of a gas-line inspection) and pre-certificate-of-occupancy coordination meetings to clear outstanding sign-offs before final inspections. Guerrero also said PRBD has pursued customer-service training for inspectors and reduced transportation costs in part by using electric vehicles.

Local builders reiterated support for PRBD’s experience and responsiveness. “If we call for an inspection the day before, they show up the next day. That’s really critical to keep the house moving,” Premier Homes’ Nick Pannunzio said. Drop Tine Construction’s Dustin Jones said PRBD’s public inspection records help maintain construction quality and value.

The board did not take a formal vote on an IGA at this meeting. Directors asked staff to obtain PRBD’s IGA language and to research whether Pueblo West legally may enter an IGA independently of Pueblo County; staff said they would return with options and, if legal counsel confirms feasibility, place the matter on a future agenda for further discussion or negotiation.