OGDENSBURG – Ogdensburg’s code office issued 337 building permits with a construction value of over $5.3 million last year.

According to a report to council, permit fees generated $31,341, which was more than the $25,000 anticipated for permit revenue in the 2018 city budget.

Despite all the work, the city saw just one new home built.

A total of 409 violation orders were issued for various code violations including excessive garbage, which resulted in the city contracting for garbage clean-up of approximately 20 properties in 2018, according to the report.

Because some clean-ups were sizeable, more than the $6,000 allocated in the 2018 Code Enforcement budget for clean-ups was needed, and an additional $5,977 was transferred from the General Fund contingent account.

The amount included in the 2019 budget for clean-ups is $12,000, which better reflects actual costs. Other activities in 2018 included issuing 18 summonses for non-compliance, receiving 13 variances, and conducting 271 inspections of rental, business and assembly structures (representing approximately 600 units) for a total revenue of $55,034, the report says.

By comparison, the 2018 budget anticipated just $30,000 for revenue.