Contractor’s license revoked

Jackson County Commissioners revoked the competency card/license of a local contractor this week, taking that action after county building officials and a homeowner complained about the house he had built for her.
Ozell Dawkins denied he had done substandard work on the home he built for Burnestine Collins, but commissioners had written reports outlining the alleged problems and voted unanimously to revoke the card.
Building Official Larry Carnley presented information that indicated Dawkins had altered trusses in the roof “with no engineered or truss manufacturer’s approval.”
Additionally, officials said, Collins advised them that a wire had malfunctioned in the wall of the home and that Dawkins allegedly “had cut and spliced the wire in a concealed wall, which is not the proper procedure for making a junction in electrical wiring.”
Carnley’s report went on to say that the repair was not inspected by the building department.
Dawkins pointed out that the county building inspector who originally looked at his work signed off on the project before the homeowner took possession.
Carnley said that the inspector no longer works for the county and commented that, even if the former inspector did fail to notice the problems, Dawkins is still to be held accountable for any deficiencies.
Carnley also noted that, as the county began to look into Collins’ complaints, he had asked Dawkins to repair leaks in the plumbing system and to place a drain pan under the hot water heater. Carnley said Dawkins brought the pan but did not install it. Carnley added other information as well, writing that “There are many cosmetic problems with the home, but the building code doesn’t address these items although his warranty should.”
The building department also talked to an engineer who says that his work was “used illegally and modified for this residence without our knowledge or consent.”
According to BTK Engineering Services president Bradley T. Kent, some original drawings he did for another client were submitted to the county by someone seeking a permit to build the Collins house.
The building department also eventually hired Kent to look at the Collins house and make recommendations to “satisfy the structural aspects of the deficiencies encountered.”
The engineer recommended removal of all roof sheeting for the first six feet of the perimeter of the building. He also recommended that new truss supports be added and that the trusses be better secured to the wall. He said that header beams and porch columns should be installed as they were supposed to be according to original drawings. Kent added another note about the home. “Other issues not related to this structural review, such as the home being…out of square, various components and cladding failures, poor craftsmanship, and floor plan alterations are not included in this review.”
Commissioners had threatened to revoke Dawkins’ license back in May of 2006 based on previous reports of substandard work, but allowed him to complete the two jobs he had under way at the time, including the Collins home, and told him that any further violations would result in revocation.
Commissioners advised Collins that she will likely have to seek civil relief in court if she hopes to recover money for any alleged damages in the case.