January 2008 was little different from most Januarys in that few construction permits were issued. Although this year has gotten off to a slow start after an overall 20 percent drop in new construction in 2007, initial value figures for 2008 are up slightly.

Over the latest two-week reporting period, only four new permits were issued by the Leelanau County Building Inspections Department, bringing the year-to-date number of permits issued to nine. By this time in 2007, 14 new permits had been issued.

In the past two weeks, however, estimated construction values totaled $217,011, bringing the year-to-date value up to $545,371 – about seven percent higher than this time last year.

The year before, in 2006, 26 permits had been issued by this time, valued at about $1.3 million. January 2006 was unusually warm, however, allowing contractors to do more work.

A slow building pace this season may actually help personnel of the Leelanau County Building Inspections Department who, like many other county employees, will be busy relocating their offices to the new Government Center in Suttons Bay Township later this month.

Following is a list of projects for which permits have been issued, listed by the community in which the work is being done:

BINGHAM: Jeffrey L. and Suzanne Weymouth (Pattco Services), finish basement for living area at 8168 S. Bingham Ridge Dr., $240.

ELMWOOD: Robert and Dorothy Sirrine, final inspection at 1055 S. Timberlee Dr., $1.

GLEN ARBOR: Thomas Digges Reay (Frontier Group L.L.C.), two-story residential detached garage with breezeway at 6854 W. Day Forest Rd., $75,250.

LEELANAU: Mark S. and Amanda S. Bosco (William Wright), two-story residential detached garage with studio above at 4132 N. Omena Point Rd., $141,520.