Private Firm Renewed for Building Inspections

WILLIAMSTON—City officials decided in late May to hire a private firm to handle building inspection services in the city for one year, beginning June 1.

City Manager Dale Soumis told Williamston's local paper, The Enterprise, that the contract with Associated Governmental Services (AGS) will mean rates "about one-third lower" than what has been charged in the past. The city had previously contracted with building inspector Jeff Bartrem.

Soumis saw other benefits from the new arrangement: "They will also help us improve on our record-keeping management and the types of records we have to maintain to meet state requirements," he said. AGS is based in Kalamazoo.