BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG – Ogdensburg City Council are asking city staff to prepare a budget that includes opening the city pool and questioning whether they can save money by cutting the brush pickup program.

City Council reviewed the Department of Public Works budget during a workshop Tuesday looking for ways to trim down a budget gap.

Currently the Department of Public Works is set to lose two employees under the preliminary Ogdensburg budget which would raise water rates by 25 percent, sewer rates by 4 percent and taxes by 12 percent.

Much of the conversation centered around shifting costs between the water, sewer and general funds.

DPW Director Shane Brown noted that the city would likely have to cut services if the reduction moves forward. Potentially on the chopping block would be the city’s brush pickup program, however no decision was made on the matter.

City Manager Jeffrey M. Skelly noted that the DPW has come in under budget for several years and has reinvested surplus to pay down equipment loans.

He said he believes the department is well run.

DPW also oversees the Recreation Department.

The existing budget includes closing the city pool, but several councilors said they’d like to see the pool open in 2023.

Doing so would add about $115,000 into the city’s multi-million dollar budget gap.

Interim City Manager Andrea Smith also noted that the city pool has leaks and problems with the pump room that need to be addressed.

No formal action was taken at the budget workshop, but staff was directed to prepare a budget plan that includes opening the city pool.