BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG – Ogdensburg Mayor Jeffrey M. Skelly says work is underway at the Ogdensburg beach and he remains hopeful for a July opening.

While City Manager Stephen Jellie is ironing out details with the state departments of Health and Environmental Conservation and finding lifeguards, city Department of Public Works crews and employees at the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority are making improvements to the former beach area.

Skelly said when the city asked the OBPA to help secure a lease for the beach for the city they stepped up and answered the call.

“The OBPA is down there painting the buildings around and it looks nice,” he said. “I’m grateful for what they are doing and giving us the opportunity to bring a beach back to Ogdensburg. I’m thankful to Sam Burns and Steve Lawrence and the employees working down there.”

Skelly said Deputy Mayor John Rishe deserves the credit for pushing city council on the initiative as part of the city’s community development plan.

“This is really John’s baby. He’s the one that came up with this,” he said.

Skelly said he’s receiving messages and taking phone calls from people that want to help.

“The response from the public has been incredible,” he said.

Skelly said a local heavy machine operator reached out and asked if he could do anything to help out.

He said the city DPW is working to widen the beach and the smell of fresh cut grass at the long-defunct site is a welcome change.

The path to securing the beach hasn’t been without criticism. Many residents raised concerns about the potential costs and environmental issues that led to the beach being closed in the first place. At a recent meeting the council was drilled about spending money on a beach. That’s largely because the majority council has been laser focused on cutting costs and reducing the tax rate.

Some council members have raised similar concerns. Councilor Nichole Kennedy voted against a lease agreement with the OBPA out of concerns about handicap accessibility.

Councilor Dan Skamperle said he’d like to hear from the public at a hearing regarding their thoughts and concerns about reopening the city beach and councilor Michael Powers echoed that sentiment.

However, the measure passed last week in a split 4-3 vote. It should be noted that all three councilors who voted against the lease agreement said they supported the beach, they just had some questions they wanted answered before moving forward.

Despite their concerns, Skelly said he’s excited to see things progressing and is hopeful that city residents can enjoy swimming in the St. Lawrence River soon.