What started as a search for warmer weather during one frozen Detroit winter turned into a nice career on the northern California coast.Dan Minges started his construction career on a framing crew in Detroit, taking the harsh Michigan winters off. He finally had enough and decided to make his way west, living a stint in Los Angeles before making his way up the coast to Crescent City.#placement_573654_0_i{width:100%;max-width:550px;margin:0 auto;}var rnd = window.rnd || Math.floor(Math.random()*10e6);var pid573654 = window.pid573654 || rnd;var plc573654 = window.plc573654 || 0;var abkw = window.abkw || '';var absrc = 'https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=0x0;setID=573654;type=js;sw='+screen.width+';sh='+screen.height+';spr='+window.devicePixelRatio+';kw='+abkw+';pid='+pid573654+';place='+(plc573654++)+';rnd='+rnd+';click=CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER';var _absrc = absrc.split("type=js"); absrc = _absrc[0] + 'type=js;referrer=' + encodeURIComponent(document.location.href) + _absrc[1];document.write('');Getting out of the construction side, he landed a job as the Del Norte County building inspector for 25 years. He had teachers and mentors along the way, guys like county inspector Stan Morris and Director of Public Works Ernie Perry, helping him hone his skills.“I got a lot out of those guys. They didn’t just have one job,” Minges said with a laugh. “Stan taught me how to deal with the public.“As building inspector, they either love you or they hate you. He guided me on how to be congenial, treat people with respect and not try and be a Mr. Know-It-All. I try to pass that along to the next guy. I tried to pass that along to one guy and he didn’t pay attention, and he’s not there anymore.”When he retired with the county, he had a chance to go to work as an interim building inspector with the city and the temporary job took on an extended stay through the COVID-19 pandemic.Now Minges will have that same opportunity to share the ins and outs of the trade with part-time building official Sean Rosenthal, who will start with the city on Oct. 2.On Sept. 18, the Crescent City City Council approved and adopted Resolution No. 2023-67, authorizing the appointment of Minges to the Retired Annuitant Position of Building Inspector – Extra Help.The title basically translates into Minges will transition from his temporary appointment as building inspector to the “Extra Help” retired annuitant position and help Rosenthal settle in.“Dan is going to help train Sean and give him the experience that he needs. He’ll also assist with the increased workload we’re expecting over the next several years with the housing projects we have on the horizon,” Crescent City City manager Eric Wier said.“Sean doesn’t have the on-the-job experience, so he’ll be able to work under the tutelage of Dan until he gets required experience. The first calls for development are starting to come in wanting to do something, so engaging with the current building inspector on what they need to submit, some of the rules and regulations on the building side - those two people are going to be key to our long-term development.”The anticipated workload, Wier said, involves large multi-family construction projects, including the 27-unit new construction, 160-unit new construction, a 56-unit new construction, and 45-unit rehabilitation project, all of which are expected to be built in the next two years.Minges just sort of smiled at the thought of the workload coming up.“A guy needs something to do,” he said, currently enjoying his vacation down in Oceanside. “I enjoy what I do or I wouldn’t do it. Part of me working for the city is being able to give back to the city that’s been good to me.“To be able to give back to the community is a good thing.” googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1515727'); });