Lede: At a Sept. 24 finance workshop, Michigan City planning and inspection leaders said they will rely on third‑party consultants and temporary inspectors to handle an ongoing rise in permits and several large development projects, and they included $15,000 in contractual services in the 2026 budget to begin that work.

Nut graf: Department representatives said permit issuance has averaged about 200 permits per month since March and that several large projects — including multifamily and commercial work — will require inspection and plan-review capacity beyond current staff levels. The finance committee recommended acceptance of the planning and inspection budgets and asked staff to notify committee members when third‑party firms are engaged.

Body: Tim Warner, the city engineer, and planning staff explained that the department has a building commissioner and two part‑time inspectors on staff and has struggled to recruit additional inspectors. Warner said the Royal Road and other large projects will generate a volume of inspections that could "overwhelm our department" and delay smaller, citywide work.

"Since March, we've issued 200 permits per month," Warner said, noting that multiple inspections per permit (often two to six) increase workload. To avoid delays, the department sought a pool of funds for contract inspectors and plan reviewers and proposed $15,000 in contractual services in the new budget to start covering those costs. Warner mentioned Envoy, an Indianapolis firm, among potential contractors and said some permit fees for large projects will partially offset consultant costs.

Committee members asked that the department provide follow‑up when vendors are retained and review monthly budget performance for the inspection line items. The finance committee recommended accepting the planning and inspection budgets as presented and requested notifications when third‑party inspection services are contracted.

Ending: The department will proceed with outreach to consultants and continue recruitment; council consideration of the full budget will follow the finance committee's recommendation.