Building activity remains strong through October in township

Building activity in the township continued strong through October, reports Mapleton chief building official Patty Wright.

A report to Mapleton council on Nov. 14 indicates the township issued 31 building permits in October for construction valued at $9,024,500, generating permit fees of $63,933.

The township issued fewer permits, 19, during October of 2016, when construction value was lower at $1,806,500 and permit fees collected were lower at $22,834.

So far in 2017, the township has issued 327 permits for over $54 million worth of construction, generating almost $490,000 in fees. To the end of October last year, 275 permits had been issued for construction valued just under $30 million, raising $266,524 in fees.

Industrial construction drove the figures in October, with one permit issued for a $4.2-million project. There were 14 permits for agricultural construction valued at a total of $3.15 million in October.

Year to date, agricultural construction remains the highest generator of building activity, with 144 permits issued for slightly more than $33 million worth of construction.

“The five-year average of fees collected by the building department for the month of October is $25,389.26, therefore the current month is above the five-year average,” Wright noted in her report.

“Year-to-date numbers range from $219,951.41 to $358,410.14 over the past five years and the average of fees collected to date from 2012 to 2016 is $284,893.33 The current year-to-date is over the five-year range and above the five-year average.”