There is hereby created the office of chief plumbing inspector and assistant inspectors of the city.
(1965 Code, sec. 15-29)
Plumbing inspectors shall be qualified as provided in V.T.C.A., Occupations Code, chapter 1301, and shall hold and keep in force a plumbing inspector’s license issued by the state board of plumbing examiners.
(1965 Code, sec. 15-30; Ordinance adopting Code)
(a)
The duties of the chief plumbing inspector shall be to receive, approve and countersign, either in person or by an authorized representative, all applications and collect all fees for permits to do plumbing, gas piping, or make sewer connections in the city, or outside the boundaries of the city if connections are made to either the city water or sewer systems; also, to personally inspect and pass on all plumbing work, gas piping and sewer connections now in use or being constructed, or which may hereafter be constructed in the city, if connections are made to either the city water or sewer systems; to issue his certificate of approval thereof if he shall approve the same, or if he shall not approve the same, to direct by written order or by other means the owner or agent in charge of any building or premises where imperfect plumbing or gas piping may be located or the plumber in charge of such construction to stop the use or construction of same until it shall have been properly repaired or constructed; to enter any house or premises in the city, at any time to examine and inspect any plumbing, gas or sewer connection therein; to investigate all alleged violations of the plumbing ordinances; to file complaints against all persons whom he has reason to believe are guilty of violation of any of the provisions of this article. Assistant plumbing inspectors shall perform all of the duties and have all of the powers of the chief plumbing inspector.
(b)
The plumbing inspector may from time to time, as he deems proper, inspect the plumbing in any building, and shall make such requirements relating thereto as may be required for the protection of the public health and safety. The owner, agent or responsible lessee of such building shall comply with these requirements.
(c)
The plumbing inspectors shall have the power, and it shall be their duty, where any building, premises or construction contains improper or defective plumbing or gas piping, or where same has been constructed, erected, altered or repaired without a permit as provided by law and the ordinances of the city, to immediately notify in writing the utility company involved or any person, firm or corporation furnishing water to cut off the water or gas supply thereto until such improper or defective plumbing or gas piping shall be made to fully comply with the law and ordinances, and a certificate of approval shall have been issued by the plumbing inspector. Gas piping, appliances, fixtures and apparatus or material, which may at any time become defective and in the opinion of the city plumbing inspector likely to cause leaks, fires or accidents or to endanger persons or property shall be condemned by the city plumbing inspector and when, in his opinion, it is deemed necessary in order to prevent such accident or danger, said city plumbing inspector is hereby authorized to disconnect such gas piping, appliances, fixtures and apparatus, or to cause the service of gas to such consumer to be discontinued until the person or persons owning or using such gas piping, appliances, fixtures, apparatus or material shall cause the same to be put in safe condition and tested and approved by the city plumbing inspector.
(d)
The chief plumbing inspector is hereby authorized to withhold the issuance of plumbing permits to any master plumber or any person authorized to do plumbing under the state law until such time as the plumbing for which a permit has been issued previously has been completed or at least prosecuted in an efficient manner in a reasonable length of time.
(e)
The chief plumbing inspector and the assistant plumbing inspectors shall have the right and power to arrest any person or persons who violate the requirements of this article.
(1965 Code, sec. 15-31)
Collection of fees, provided for herein, shall be paid to the plumbing inspector or his authorized representative. Any person, collecting permit fees as provided in this article, shall be bonded in the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars ($2500.00) executed by himself and secured by a surety company. The fee for such bond shall be paid by the city.
(1965 Code, sec. 15-32)
No plumbing inspector will be permitted to work for or be connected or associated with any master plumber, plumbing manufacturer or wholesale plumbing and supply or to do any plumbing work while employed as a plumbing inspector by the city.
(1965 Code, sec. 15-33)