By Cindi Andrews
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Hamilton County could save more than half a million dollars a year by merging its Building Inspections and Public Works departments and making other changes, a consultant recommends.

"The result is a less cumbersome process more accountable to the customers that it serves," says a report by New Jersey-based consultant A.T. Hudson & Co. Inc.

County commissioners ordered a review of those departments earlier this year as part of an effort to make government cheaper and more customer-friendly.

Building Inspections issues building permits and ensures compliance with building codes. Public Works reviews flood-control measures for residential and commercial construction, and installs and repairs storm sewers and hydrants.

Together, they employ about 65 people, and A.T. Hudson says several positions - including a deputy director - could be eliminated if they merged. Personnel cuts and other moves could save $550,000 to $698,000 a year, the report says.

But department leaders say A.T. Hudson did Building Inspections employees "a great disservice" by underestimating the amount of work they do and the time needed to do it, according to a 21/2-inch-thick rebuttal.

Public Works Director Gary Van Hart also has concerns about some of A.T. Hudson's ideas.

A merger may not be practical, he said Wednesday, because each department requires different expertise.

Van Hart said some recommendations are not customer-friendly, such as one that crews no longer investigate stormwater complaints on private property. These problems usually can't be handled by phone, he said, because the average citizen isn't versed in complexities of flood management.

"As I tell my people, think of it like it's your mother asking," he said. "What does your mother know about storm systems?"

Commissioner Phil Heimlich said he's determined to cut costs.

"If we have the chance to save the taxpayers $650,000 or more, we should take it," Heimlich said. "If these departments can demonstrate some of these recommendations would hurt customer service, I'll listen to them. ... But I do think there's a tendency on the part of government agencies to resist change. There's a tendency to resist accountability."

E-mail candrews@enquirer .com