North Judson Building Inspector Jeff Abrams appeared before the town council requesting to establish a permit for gas line inspections when members met Monday.
“When there is a house vacated and the gas has been shut off, Nipsco wants an inspection done so I think that we should be able to charge for that because I have to go out and look at it.” He explained, “They have to do a pressure test it and it has to hold pressure for a day.”
Abrams said after doing some research he found that a neighboring municipality charges a $50 permit fee for the service, so he recommended that North Judson charge that price as well.
Councilman Josh Brown asked Nipsco would pay the fee. Abrams replied that it would be homeowners who would apply for the permit and pay the charge. He also mentioned that Nipsco would be notified of the request and then they would turn the meter on so the pressure test could be carried out.
Councilwoman Jane Ellen Felchuck inquired about what the town council would need to do to incorporate the change into their fee schedule. Town Attorney Justin Schramm informed her that they would just need to amend the fee schedule in their existing rate ordinance.
A motion was made to amend the fee schedule by adding a gas line inspection permit fee and members passed it unanimously. That motion also established that $50 would be charged for the permit.
