Built To Last - Building Safety Month with Laurie Roberts

Show Notes

Today, we are talking about Building Safety Month, an international celebration in May to raise awareness about building safety. Our guest today is Laurie Roberts, the permit technician here at the City of Dallas.

https://www.iccsafe.org/advocacy/building-safety-month/building-safety-month/

What is Dallas, Oregon Podcast?

Your source for city updates, behind-the-scenes stories, and conversations with the people shaping our community.

SPEAKER_01: Welcome to the
Dallas Oregon Podcast, your

quick and informative source for
what's happening in and around

our city.

I'm Charlie Mitchell, the city's
economic and community

development director, and each
episode we ask city staff, local

leaders, and community members
to come on in and discuss the

projects, people, and
possibilities shaping Dallas.

Today we're talking about
Building Safety Month, an

international celebration in May
each year to raise awareness

about building safety.

Our guest today is Lori Roberts,
the permit technician here at

the City of Dallas.

Lori, thank you so much for
joining us today.

SPEAKER_00: Hi, thanks for
having me.

SPEAKER_01: Now, before we get
into all the great things you

have to share about Building
Safety Month, first let's get to

know you.

Can you give us a 30-second
snapshot of your life and then

what you do here at the City of
Dallas?

SPEAKER_00: Okay.

Um, I've lived in five different
states growing up.

I've been in Oregon since 1977,
and my descendants were pioneers

of Dallas.

Um, I worked 21 years before the
city of Dallas.

Um my career started as an
administrative assistant doing

data entry and developing
computers.

And then I worked for um as an
executive assistant bookkeeper

in real estate development,
property management, and

property insurance claims and
underwriting.

In July, I will have been with
the city of Dallas 25 years.

And then I started here as
administrative assistant for

community development public
works and as an executive

assistant to the city manager
after that and in finance.

And now I'm currently the permit
technician for um building and

planning department, which I
love.

SPEAKER_01: Great.

Well, thanks for sharing.

Now let's get into building
safety month.

Lori, can you tell us what
building safety month is all

about?

SPEAKER_00: Yes, building safety
month is an important um

campaign.

It's organized by ICC, which is
the International Code Council.

It takes place in every May to
raise awareness about building

safety.

Um, the campaign reinforces the
need for adopting modern,

regularly updated building codes
and helps individuals, families,

and businesses understand what
it takes to create sustainable

structures.

All communities need building
codes to protect their citizens

from disasters like fires,
weather-related events, and

structural collapse.

And the building codes are
society's best way of protecting

homes, offices, schools,
manufacturing facilities,

stores, um, and other
entertainment venues.

It's dear to my heart, um, my
past experiences and claims and

underwriting.

It's a very important thing.

SPEAKER_01: Very good.

Now, Lori, can you tell us about
uh this year's building safety

theme?

SPEAKER_00: Sure.

Um, the 2026 campaign theme is
called Build to Last, and there

are weekly themes that go with
that.

SPEAKER_01: Now, what are those
weekly themes?

SPEAKER_00: Um week one will be
about safe homes, strong

communities.

It focuses on simple actions
that homeowners can take to

improve safety at their own
homes.

The week two is called Voices of
the Built Environment.

It spotlights building safety
professionals and the roles that

they play in keeping the
community safe.

Week three is called Prepare to
Protect.

It encourages community
preparedness and highlights how

disaster-resilient building
codes can protect people and

property.

And then the final week four is
Communities Without Limits.

It showcases the importance of
accessibility in building

construction and design.

SPEAKER_01: Wow, that's great.

Um, do you have a favorite
weekly theme?

SPEAKER_00: Uh no, it's kind of
like my kids.

They're all equally important.

Um, what I like is the concept
of the annual event itself.

Um, it's a reminder that we need
to support each other and do our

part to keep each other, our
homes, and our communities safe.

Um, education and information is
key, and that needs to be shared

to prevent catastrophic events
of all sizes.

Um, I've seen what happens when
people are not prepared, and

that's why I love this campaign.

SPEAKER_01: So, Building Safety
Month is a great way to let

people know the importance of
building safety.

Now, thank you for sharing all
about it and the importance of

building safety.

Now, I understand that people
can visit our website and learn

more.

Is that correct?

SPEAKER_00: All the information
um is available at the

wwwdallasor.gov website.

And you can learn more about
building safety and also links

to the ICC website, which has
even more information.

Um, and that's also how the city
of Dallas is sharing information

about safety.

SPEAKER_01: Uh, that's great,
Lori.

Thanks, thanks so much.

And thanks so much for joining
us today.

Now, before we go to close out
our podcast, we ask all of our

guests this one question.

What do you like the most about
Dallas?

SPEAKER_00: Well, there's a lot
of reasons, but Dallas is a

beautiful, safe place where a
majority of people that live

here um they still serve, value,
and care about each other in

their community.

And I I believe that with all my
heart.

SPEAKER_01: That's great.

Thanks so much.

Thanks again to Lori for joining
us today, and thank you to

everyone for tuning in.

Be sure to follow us on YouTube,
Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Thanks for listening to the
Dallas Oregon Podcast.

I'm Charlie Mitchell, and we'll
see you next time.