Dee Morgan named Kingsport’s New Building Official

KINGSPORT – Joseph Dee Morgan Jr. has recently been named as Kingsports Fifth Building Official after serving in an interim capacity since the retirement of Mike Freeman earlier this year.

Dee Morgan

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I am honored to serve our City in this position and look forward to continuing to provide the highest quality construction services in the customer-focused style our community expects, Morgan said. The role of building official is not always popular, but essential to ensure safe commercial and residential structures in Kingsport. The office has a role during the construction process, as a building or residence ages, and many years into the life-cycle of a building as renovations or expansions occur.

Morgan is a Kingsport native, growing up in downtown neighborhoods and is a graduate of Dobyns-Bennett High School.‚  After graduation, he studied at East Tennessee State University and continued his education with hands-on experience in the construction industry.

Mr. Morgans familiar face has been seen inspecting construction sites for the last twenty years. He was hired by former Building Official Zack Wright in 1993.‚  Dee became a Certified Plans Examiner in 1997 and was promoted to Senior Building Inspector.

He also received his certification as a Code Official in 2003, completed the University of Tennessee/Municipal Technical Advisory Service Level 1 & 2 Management Academy in 2007, reaching the final certification of Building Official from the International Code Council in 2012.

One of the principal roles of a City Manager is to ensure employees are given the opportunity and training essential to improve their performance on behalf of the public and advance within their chosen career path, City Manager John Campbell said. Dee is a fine example of one our own citizens who grew up in this community taking advantage of those opportunities to continuously learn and grow, and I have the utmost confidence he will serve the citizens of Kingsport as Building Official at a very high capacity.

Assistant City Manager Jeff Fleming noted that integrity, fairness and transparency will continue to be hallmarks of the office under Morgan.

Kingsport has a strong reputation of being responsive and fair to builders and developers, Fleming said.‚ ‚  Dee has been an integral part of that Development Services team for many years and he will continue that legacy.

Dee will continue to partner with our community and regional representatives through his participation with the local Greater Kingsport Home Builders Association as well as the Upper East Tennessee Building Officials Association, having served as past president of the UETBOA.

We will work every day to identify problems as early as possible and be flexible in finding solutions, Morgan said. Whether the project involves a construction professional or a citizen tackling a weekend project, in every circumstance, our office will provide prompt, professional and useful advice on how to complete a safe project everyone will be proud of upon completion.

Mr. Morgan is married to Patty and is quite proud of his daughter Cindy, and two grandchildren Lance and Ian. He spends his spare time playing music and reading.