To Eric Pearson, working as a building inspector is much like being the referee at a sporting event.
‘I’m the guy in the stripes,? said the 41-year-old Elba Township resident. ‘My job is to watch what’s going on, pull a flag out and get yelled at.?
But unlike a hard-nosed referee, Pearson’s willing to listen to all sides and help where he can.
Pearson was hired last week as the new building inspector/plan reviewer for the Village of Oxford. Nine applied for the position. He replaces the late John Elsarelli who passed away in December.
As an independent contractor for the village, Pearson will be paid $50 for each residential building plan review and up to $200 for commercial reviews; 75 percent of permit fees for building inspections; no more than $50 for zoning compliance applications for occupancy inspections; and $25 per hour to attend planning commission and ZBA meetings.
From August 1992 to April 2000, Pearson worked for the City of Fenton where he handled building inspections, plan reviews and code enforcement.
‘Building inspection is what I’m good at,? said Pearson, who noted he took building code and construction management classes while living in California. ‘My code knowledge is college level.?
He also worked as a project manager for Silverman Custom Homes, of Southfield, from 2000-04 and as a customer service representative for Gateway Housing Group in Carlsbad, California from 1987-91.
‘All my construction experience is hands on,? Pearson said.
‘He has an entensive knowledge of the construction industry and a broad knowledge of all the trades,? wrote village Manager Joe Young in his Feb. 23 recommendation to council.
Describing himself as ‘open-minded? and ‘easy going,? Pearson said he’s ‘willing to work with people.?
‘I’m not going to come off with a god personality, saying this is the only way to do it,? he said. ‘The building code is open to interpretation . . . It’s a living, breathing code.?
Pearson said he’s more than willing to discuss different aspects of the building code, answer questions and help people find alternatives to fit their needs.
‘You’ve got to be able to live and grow because new things come about all the time,? he said.
Pearson said his job is to be fair and impartial when it comes to enforcing the building code.
‘The building inspector is the referee in the building game,? he explained. ‘The building code is a minimum standard that I enforce for everyone who’s playing the building game so that nobody has an advantage over the other person.?
On a personal note, Pearson moved to Lapeer from Livonia in the third grade after spending many weekends and summers there. ‘Lapeer is where I grew up.?
Pearson is a 1983 Lapeer West High School graduate and has three children ? Lars, 17; Rosie, 12; and Andrew, 5.
When he’s not working, Pearson enjoys spending time with his kids along with hunting, fishing and other outdoor pursuits.