GREENBRIER, Tenn. - A local building inspector has resigned after admitting he approved construction work for his unlicensed brother.
The unusual family connection has contractors furious, and the city of Greenbrier launching an investigation.
The city issued a stop work order yesterday for the commercial building that the inspector's brother was constructing.
Mayor Billy Wilson referred the matter to the District Attorney for review and told NewsChannel 5 Investigates that it's an embarrassment for the city.
"It just looks like egg thrown on the face of Greenbrier. It gives you a bad name," Mayor Wilson said.
Mayor Wilson accepted the resignation of his codes director, and Greenbrier's only building inspector, Chuck Weaver, on Thursday.
NewsChannel 5 Investigates found the building permit Weaver approved.
It involved the construction of a new liquor store.
Weaver left the section on the permit which identifies the contractor blank.
NewsChannel 5 Investigates asked Mayor Wilson, "Don't you think he was trying to hide the fact is was his brother?"
Mayor Wilson responded, "It's the way it appears."
Contractor Brandon Frank said there is concern in the community that there are other cases like the liquor store.
"There's a lot of builders up here, and there's more than just one project they're worried about," Frank said.
Frank indicated he wanted to build the liquor store, but the owner wouldn't let him bid.
"He flat out told me, it would be easier to get things passed," Frank said.
Frank said it's impossible to compete against the building inspector or his unlicensed brother to get a job.
"It was wrong because it was taking from my livelihood and from my child and my family," Frank said.
The city called Weaver to the Police department, and Weaver told police he wanted to help his brother in the slow economy, but had not personally profited.
Contractors like Brandon Frank just want the whole thing cleared up.
The city consulted the District Attorney about an official misconduct charge.
But because Weaver told police he never personally benefited, they closed the investigation for now, and decided not to call in the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
