Building and Safety Director Blahak Accepts New Position
Published on April 29, 2025
Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird today announced that Building and Safety Director Chad Blahak has accepted the position of Project Assurance Leader at Olsson. Blahak’s last day with the City will be Friday, June 27. The administration will begin the search for a new Building and Safety Director in the coming months.
“Chad has played a vital role in shaping Lincoln’s growth and development during a time of increased demand for housing and commercial construction,” Mayor Gaylor Baird said. "His leadership helped modernize our permitting processes and improve customer service for residents and builders. We thank him for his years of dedicated public service and wish him continued success in his next chapter.”
Blahak is a licensed professional engineer who started working for the Public Works and Utilities Department in 2002. He was named interim director in 2014 and became director in 2015, succeeding Fred Hoke, who retired.
“I greatly appreciate the opportunity that Mayor Leirion has given me these past six years to continue serving the residents of Lincoln as the Building and Safety director. I have truly enjoyed my career with the City, starting with my time at Public Works, and later with Building and Safety,” Blahak said. “It has been a privilege serving the Lincoln community while working with so many wonderful and talented people. I am excited for the opportunity to return to Olsson, where I started my professional career – I look forward to supporting the growth of this Lincoln based national firm.”
Before joining the City, Blahak was an engineer for Olsson. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
The Building and Safety Department is responsible for ensuring that all construction, renovation, and occupancy of buildings within Lincoln meet established safety codes and regulations. The department employs about 60 staff who review construction plans, issue permits, and perform inspections.
The department also includes housing inspectors who assess residential properties for habitability and code compliance, as well as fire inspectors and investigators who evaluate fire safety measures, investigate fire incidents, and work to prevent future fire related hazards. Together, these teams help maintain safe, livable environments for Lincoln’s residents and businesses.
The Building and Safety Department is also a part of the Development Services Center, which works with Lincoln and Lancaster County agencies – Health, Planning, Transportation and Utilities, and Urban Development – to streamline the land development process as well as to promote a safe community for the residents of Lincoln and Lancaster County.
For more information, visit lincoln.ne.gov/building.