Bert Stone, Clatsop County’s new building official, brings 14 years of experience in the profession.

Stone, who began work March 11, was chosen for the position because of his excellent qualifications and broad experience in both public and private sectors, said Bill Armold, director of the county Community Development Department.

Stone was the senior field inspector for Clair Company, a construction firm based in Corvallis. He has been the building official for Polk County, Sherwood, Sheridan and Puyallup, Wash.; building inspection supervisor for Marion County, and a plans examiner for Bellevue, Wash.

He also worked as a welder and fabricator in Oregon and as a construction supervisor in Alaska. He holds associate degrees in building inspection technology from Chemeketa Community College in Salem and welding technology from Portland Community College.

As the building official, Stone oversees the Building Codes Division, which provides electrical and manufactured home inspections for the entire county and structural, mechanical and plumbing inspections for the unincorporated areas and the cities of Astoria and Warrenton. The Building Codes Division is part of the county Community Development Department.

The staff also includes Dave Westphal, building inspector; Rob Barratt, electrical inspector, Floyd Gregg, electrical inspector, Laura Byrne, staff assistant, and Carol Penuel, administrative support. The county also contracts with building inspectors Steve Winstead, Jason Field and Jim Brien.

A panel consisting of Clatsop County Public Works Director Randy Trevillian, Astoria planner Rosemary Johnson, Astoria building permits coordinator Lisa Ferguson, and Warrenton City Planner Patrick Wingard interviewed four finalists for the position and Stone was the unanimous top choice.