Ames Building Official Finalists Named; Public Invited

Four candidates for the Building Official position will meet with the public in in through Nov. 8. And the City of Ames wants residents to give their feedback.

A press release from the city follows below:

Former Building Official David Brown retired in August. The Building Official is the head of the Inspections Division for the City of Ames. A division of the Ames Fire Department, the Inspection Division administers and enforces State and City public safety codes regulating building construction, maintenance, and use by issuing permits and performing inspections. Additionally, the Inspections Division enforces the City’s rental housing code, dangerous building code, property maintenance ordinances, and sign laws. 

Blas Hernandez, of Urbandale, Iowa, currently serves as a Construction Design Engineer for the Department of Public Safety - State Fire Marshall in Des Moines. He has held this position since June of 2007. From 2003-2007 Hernandez was Chief Building Official for the City of Papillion, Neb. Prior to that, Hernandez served from 1999-2003 as Chief Building Official for the City of Commerce City, Neb. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. 

Hernandez will give a public presentation from 4 to 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 26 in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 515 Clark Ave. 

Rich Russell, of Dubuque, Iowa, currently serves as Building Services Manager for the City of Dubuque, a position he has held since 1999. From 1989-1999 Russell was a Building Official for the City of Coralville, Iowa. He earned a bachelor's degree from Iowa State University in Ames. 

Russell will give a public presentation from 4 to 5 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 29 in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 515 Clark Ave. 

Howard Asch, of East Lansing, Mich., served as Director of Code Enforcement and Neighborhood Conservation for the City of East Lansing, Mich., from 1998 until June 2012.  From 1991-1998, Asch was Director of Building Inspections for the City of Bay City, Mich. Asch earned a bachelor’s degree from Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa. 

Asch will give a public presentation from 4 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 7 in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 515 Clark Ave. 

Christopher Kiel, of Oro Valley, Ariz., currently serves as Plans Examiner for the Golder Ranch Fire District in Tucson, Ariz., a position he has held since 2007. Kiel was a Building Official for Willdan in Tucson, Ariz., from 2006-2007. He served as President and CEO of Master Code Professional, LLC, from 2005-2006, and was the Senior Plans Examiner for the Town of Oro Valley, Ariz., from 2002-2006. Kiel also served as Town Manager for the Town of DeMotte, Ind., from 1998-2002. He earned a bachelor's degree from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. 

Kiel will give a public presentation from 4 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 8 in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 515 Clark Ave.