Mariposa County has an interim building director, as it searches for a permanent one. The department is also dealing with a new fee schedule that became effective Nov. 2.

Dennis Wister, a retired building official from Stanislaus County, is acting as the interim building director. Wister was a licensed plumbing contractor before he made the switch to working for municipalities. “I look forward to working with this county,” Wister said at Tuesday’s board of supervisors’ meeting. He will remain on the job until a permanent director is found.

The County is currently advertising for a new director, but the application period doesn’t close until Dec. 24. The position pays $6,224 - $7,565 per month. The terms of Wister’s temporary employment were not disclosed.

Wister takes over following the resignation of Fred Lustenberger, who left the post on Nov. 6, amid a sea of controversy.

At the same time the staff is dealing with a new administrator, it is trying to help consumers deal with a new fee schedule that went into effect on Nov. 2. The change is actually the second tier of an increase enacted by the board of supervisors last spring. The increase was split into two parts to ease the financial impact.

Beginning Sept. 1, 2008, well and septic permits which have electrical components like pumps were required to obtain an electrical permit. That fee is $106. For example, the old permit fee for a well was $133. It is now $246. The former fee for well and septic was $198. Now it is $311.