This year's nastier-than-usual winter weather and a potentially looming economic recession may be playing a role in reducing the number of building permits being issued by the Leelanau County Building Inspections department.

Four weeks ago, the Enterprise reported that the department was moving from Leland to the new Government Center in Suttons Bay Township and that files containing newly issued building permits had all been boxed up for the move. That’s why this report includes four week’s worth of building permits instead of the usual two weeks.

Within that four-week reporting period, the department issued just nine new permits, bringing the year-to-date total number of permits issued to 18. By this time in 2007, the department had issued nearly twice as many permits – 35 to be exact. This year’s low number apparently had little to do with the move because it required that the department close for just two business days during the four-week period.

However, the combined estimated construction value of this year’s 18 permits is about 5.5 percent higher than last year’s estimated totals. The 2008 year-to-date total estimated construction value is $1,428,892. The combined values of the latest nine permits issued totaled $883,521.

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

VILLAGE OF EMPIRE: Linda Lemieux (Cameron Shaw Magoon) interior alterations to single-family residence at 11064 S. Lake Michigan Dr., $51,060.

BINGHAM: William M. Roust Jr. Trust (Northwood Construction & Real Estate), addition on crawlspace to single-family residence at 6369 S. West Bay Shore Dr., $46,080.

CENTERVILLE: Hohnke & Sons Inc., final inspection on expired permit for project at 3383 Hohnke Rd., $500.

GLEN ARBOR: Glen and Mary Peterson (Prestige Construction Group), two-story single-family residence on basement with garage and porches at 6269 W. Lake Wood Dr., $359,020; Fowler Living Revocable Trust (Circle G. Construction), addition and alteration to single-family residence at 5 Brook Hill Cottages, $42,480.

LEELANAU: Neil W. and Patricia A. Barnett, one-story single-family residence on basement with attached garage and porches at 13177 N. Forest Beach Shore, $242,520.

LELAND: John D. and Janet Lee Norris (Michael A. Collings), additions and alterations to single-family residence at 1506 N. Lake Leelanau Dr., $85,490

SOLON: Daniel and Laura L. Millward (Millward Custom Homes), commercial interior alteration at 6005 E. Traverse Hwy., $55,871; Gabrielle Walters, et al, final inspection for project at 5888 E. Hoxie Rd., $500.