A lot of hoopla over the changing of a construction ordinance last month is much to do about nothing, a county official said this week.

“They felt the homeowners wouldn’t be able to build their own homes any longer and that handymen wouldn’t be able to do their work without a contractor’s license,” said Suwannee County Coordinator Johnny Wooley of the controversy at the January County Commission meeting.

“It’s just simply not true. They are exempt,” Wooley added.

Wooley said state law requires that if the handyman is to be paid $1,000 or more per job, that he/she has a contractor’s license. “That we can’t change,” Wooley stated. Wooley said if the owner of a business wants to build a place to do business, they must hire a contractor, but that same owner can build his/her own home no matter what the cost. The owner can build or repair other buildings, including commercial buildings, on their property when that property is not put up for sale within one year of the work, the ordinance says.

The ordinance deals with fines and penalties, sets up a construction board and deals with all issues relating to construction in Suwannee County.

A controversy arose over the new ordinance after the county was required to make changes in County Ordinance 97-18 to eliminate criminal charges for violation. The Third Circuit State Attorney’s Office said it would no longer prosecute those cases without charging the county. Thus, the county had to change the criminal charges to civil fines and penalties by changing the ordinance, Wooley said. Violators will receive a citation and appear before a judge, much like a traffic violation.

When the new ordinance came out before the county was to pass it at the night meeting in January, a number of people were present to protest, saying the new ordinance prohibited them from working as handymen. The Commission tabled the decision until Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. to study it further, saying they didn’t want to pass an ordinance that would prohibit handymen from being employed nor a potential homeowner from building his/her own home.

Susan K. Lamb may be reached by calling 1-386-362-1734 ext. 131 or by emailing susan.lamb@gaflnews.com.