By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG -- Ogdensburg Housing Authority Chairwoman Patricia Redden-Sargent will address the council regarding the ongoing bedbug infestation at the city’s senior towers Tuesday at 7 p.m. at city hall.

Redden-Sargent agreed to attend the meeting after being contacted by city officials. City Manager Sarah Purdy said attempts to reach Ogdensburg Housing Authority Director William Seymour were unsuccessful.

Purdy said the senior towers are under jurisdiction of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, which limits the council’s ability to intervene on the issue. However, city councilors expressed public health concerns at recent meeting because of the potential spreading of bedbugs throughout the city.

Purdy said representatives of Congresswoman Elise Stefanik-R (NY-21), were also contacted. She said staff members from her office told the city they would reach out to HUD officials on their behalf.

The bedbug outbreak was reported at Centennial and Riverview towers.

The outbreak prompted councilor Daniel Skamperle to question whether St. Lawrence County Public Health Department could get involved, but Purdy noted that the department is currently without a director.

Skamperle also questioned if the towers were in violation of city codes, but Purdy said the towers are federal regulated and inspected, effectively putting them outside of the city’s reach.

That conversation prompted the city to reach out to federal officials.

The council also provided information regarding bedbugs in their public update. That date can be found at https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/pests/bedbugs