SpringfieldNewsSun.com

URBANA — We are fortunate in Urbana to have a variety of do-it-yourself specialists to provide advice, ideas and instructions for home and car do-it-yourself projects.

Over the years, I have relied on specialists from our local lumber, hardware and auto parts stores to help me fix and renovate things around the house and with our vehicles. I have learned a great deal from these people, and it has helped me tremendously, and I thank them. If you are preparing to do a DIY project, I encourage you to utilize these specialists from our local hardware, car parts and lumber stores.

As I get older, I think I will have to rely more on contractors to do some of this work on my residence. I will need to remind myself, and I want to remind others to use a contractor that is registered to perform construction or renovation work, which includes heating, cooling, electrical, plumbing, cement and building work.

The contractor registration is not a guarantee the work will be trouble-free; however, it normally shows the contractor wants to do what is right and follow the rules and not take those dreaded shortcuts that usually create trouble down the road.

The Champaign County Building Department issues the contractor registrations for Champaign County, which covers the City of Urbana. Before you hire a contractor and if you are not sure whether they are registered in Champaign County, I encourage you to contact the Champaign Building Department to see if the contractor is registered. Also, if you are trying to find a contractor, the Champaign County Building Department will provide you with a list of registered contractors in the county.

The Building Department is located in the County Building at 1512 South Main in Urbana. Their phone number is 484-1602.

Bruce Evilsizor is the director of

administration

in the City of Urbana

.

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