BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG — Hoping to improve transparency with the public, Interim City Manager Andrea Smith, who also serves as the city planner, has brought back public updates.

The updates were pushed for by local media agencies in years past and provide insight to city activities.

The updates began under former City Manager Sarah Purdy, but were sidelined by City Manager Stephen Jellie who recently resigned the position.

Mayor Jeffrey M. Skelly said he was pleased to see them return because it allows the city residents to stay informed.

In recent years City Councilors Dan Skamperle, Michael Powers and Nichole Kennedy had often requested that the updates be reinstated and councilors at the Jan. 9 meeting praised Smith for bringing them back.

City Seeking Grants

Among items included in the update are recently awarded grants including a $400,000 St. Lawrence County ARPA Infrastructure grant, a $1.17 Million NYS Empire State Development Restore New York Grant and a $50,000 New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Grant.

Additionally the city is seeking a $100,000 EPA Brownfield Cleanup Grant to tear down the former Cheese Plant, a $2.9 million EFC Green Innovation Program grant, a $720,000 EFC Water Quality Improvement Project grant to address issues at the Main Street Pump Station and a NYS EFC Drinking Water State Revolving Fund grant.

Additionally the City submitted an application for $10 million from the New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative program.

The City also hopes to seek additional grants for the demolition of the Cheese Plant and a FEMA SAFER grant to provide additional staff at the Ogdensburg Fire Department.

Work Underway

The city’s REDI projects are well underway. The work on the Maple City Trail, being completed by Sheehan Construction, has paused for the winter. Outstanding items to complete include final paving, seeding, grading and landscaping, along with installation of site furnishings, according to the update.

Morrisette Park and Municipal Marina improvements began in October 2022. TJ Fiacco is the general contractor. Work on the project is continuing as weather permits to keep the project on schedule.

The bid opening for the Main Street Pump Station Rehabilitation project was held Thursday, January 5, 2023 at 11 a.m.. In accordance with WICs Law, there are three contracts for this project: General Construction, Electrical and HVAC. The bid tabulation results are available online and are under review by the city’s project engineers, EDR.

It is anticipated to have a resolution to award the bid prepared for Council consideration on Jan. 23.

The most recent update can be found at http://www.ogdensburg.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3358