Dispute Over Permits Delays Rebuilding Effort
Some wildfire victims who rely on free labor to restore their burned homes may be out of luck if a prolonged dispute over county permits continues, recovery team members said.
The dispute, which has delayed volunteers from helping rebuild, may cause relief workers to offer their services elsewhere.
A team of up to 15 skilled Mennonite laborers has not been allowed to begin construction because the necessary permits have not been received from San Diego County. Officials said the process of acquiring permits is going very slowly, and the religious-affiliated group will decide within the month whether to pack up and move on to help victims of Hurricane Ivan in Florida.
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