Just one month into the new year and Freeborn County is more than $200,000 ahead on building permits, when compared to the same month last year.

In January 2011, Freeborn County’s Planning and Zoning Department issued eight building permits with a total estimated valuation of $276,530.

In comparison, the county only issued one permit in January 2010, valued at $2,460.

The majority of the valuation in January 2011 was for two permits issued to the same property near Hartland for a new house, garage and pole barn, estimated at about $235,000 all together.

Wayne Sorensen, the county’s appointed building official, noted that as the weather warms up and the snow starts to melt more permits will be issued.

Even so, he expects permit valuation to be lower this year than last because of the high volume of storm repairs last year.

Total building activity in 2010 was $13,524,613.

Sorensen also noted that while the valuation last year was lower than in 2009 —that number was $23,839,769 — one $17 million permit issued to Wisconsin Power and Light for the wind turbines at Bent Tree Wind Farm skewed the 2009 totals. He said actual building activity in 2009, less the wind turbine permit, totaled $6,759,769.

Albert Lea’s Inspection Department issued 17 building permits with an estimated valuation of $142,165 in January 2011. All of those permits were for alterations or repairs: 13 residential and four commercial.

In January 2010, the city issued six building permits with an estimated valuation of $268,830. One permit for a new house valued at $180,000 counted for nearly half of that total.