Building Department to Go High-Tech

The city's Building Department is slated to get an electronic upgrade next year that will streamline all its activity and put everything online.

Building Commission Tony Biondillo told City Council members at a recent budget meeting that when the upgrade is complete, inspectors will take iPads into the field and use them to take pictures of violations that can be immediately uploaded.

Building permits will be issued online with payments by credit card.

And developers will be able to track the progress of their projects online.

"We'll be one of the few in the state of Ohio to have this technology," Biondillo said.

On top of that, residents will be able to visit kiosks at City Hall to view their files if they have a project in the works.

Mayor Tom Perciak said the new technology will be attractive to companies that are looking to locate here because they can immediately access information on the Building Department's website.

"This makes our city busines-friendly," he said.