By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG – Ogdensburg officials want something done about the recently reported bed bug outbreak at Centennial and Riverview towers.

Councilor Daniel Skamperle said he wants to have a conversation with William Seymour, director of Ogdensburg Housing Authority.

According to councilors, the infestation begin more than sixth months ago and continues to plague residents at the towers.

Skamperle said he fears that the infestation could spread throughout the city and wants something done immediately.

City Manager Sarah Purdy said she would attempt to set up a meeting with Seymour to get an update on the situation.

Skamperle questioned whether St. Lawrence County Public Health Department could get involved, but Purdy noted that the department is currently without a director. She suggested that the state health department may be worth contacting.

Skamperle also questioned if the towers were in violation of city codes, but Purdy said they are federal regulated and inspected and that they were out of the city’s jurisdiction. Purdy suggested that Seymour could be asked to attend the next council meeting, but Skamperle said he’d like to see action on the issue sooner.

Mayor Wayne Ashley said bed bugs are a serious problem and recalled a story in which a family had to take everything out of their home and have the house bagged to deal with the problem.

City resident Donald Burns, who was formerly a corrections officer said out breaks of a bed bugs in the prison were treated seriously noting that it’s a “big deal.”