Behind every new building and construction project throughout Porter County is Building Commissioner Mike Haller. For the last 20-plus years, Haller has been working tirelessly to ensure every structure throughout the county is built and maintained according to strict safety codes.
“In the grand scheme of building construction, the State of Indiana provides for jurisdictions to create Building Departments, the head of which is generally called a Building Commissioner. The Building Commissioner is the authority having jurisdiction (or AHJ) in the county and he/she reviews local building projects for compliance with Indiana's Building Codes and Rules,” said Haller.
As Porter County’s building commissioner, Haller is the final stop in the construction process.
“I have a standard way of looking at buildings,” said Haller. “There's a lot of smart people working on these buildings before I get there – the architects, the engineers, the plumbers, and more.”
Haller sees himself as the final stop in the important process and supports all buildings, from new homes to large office buildings.
“Within the realm of a building department, there's me, as well as a full-time and a part-time building inspector,” said Haller. “We always have multiple projects to cover from remodeling projects to schools getting ready to start this month.”
It is the wide range of projects and the variety of people he meets that have kept Haller in the role for so long.
“I find this work very interesting, and I get to meet new people every day,” said Haller. “Some of the people I have met repeatedly have even become friends.”
The ultimate goal of Haller’s work, though, is to support the community.
“I like to think my job helps raise construction and safety to a higher standard,” said Haller. “I always hope that people are learning from me, rather than me just pointing a finger at them.”
Haller understands first-hand that sometimes it takes an outside eye to spot an issue.
“I recently burned the eggs while cooking and realized that all the smoke detectors in my house stopped beeping,” said Haller. “I had forgotten about changing the batteries–something I’m always talking about replacing.”
Although Haller is the expert on all of Indiana’s building codes, he also understands that many of the local laborers and workers are experts in their own right.
“One thing that the general public needs to understand is what has taken place before the issuance of a building permit,” said Haller. “There's a lot of smart people working on these buildings.”
Proud of his accomplishments, Haller hopes that learning about the trades and building codes is something that the next generation can honor as well.
“When I taught in the construction program at Purdue University, I used to have the class walk through a building with me,” said Haller. “One small trip around a site, and they would learn things that they could take home and check out on their own property.”
With over 400 hours of training under his belt, Haller plans to continue serving the people of Porter County for years to come.
To learn more about Porter County Government, please visit porterco.org.