I think experience is the best teacher. If you’re exposed to this and you see how things progress, you can see what’s been successful. You can see what was good and what wasn’t and what needs to be done”

BY JIMMY LAWTONNorth Country This Week

OSWEGATCHIE — St. Lawrence County Legislator Joe Lightfoot, District 3, is seeking reelection, citing his experience on the Legislature and focus on county finances as central to his campaign.

Lightfoot was appointed to the Legislature in 2009 and has served continuously since. He has served on numerous committees, including healthcare, buildings and grounds, solid waste and financial stability. He also spent three years as chairman and two years as vice chairman.

“I think experience is the best teacher,” Lightfoot said. “If you’re exposed to this and you see how things progress, you can see what’s been successful. You can see what was good and what wasn’t and what needs to be done.”

Lightfoot identified recruiting and retaining county employees as one of the county’s biggest challenges.

“The biggest problem facing the county is identifying, locating and hiring competent people to do the work and figuring out how to keep them,” he said.

He said the county needs to find better ways to retain employees in a competitive and mobile workforce.

Lightfoot also said maintaining the county’s finances while working to reduce the tax rate will remain a challenge. He pointed to changes involving the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, as an example of costs being shifted between levels of government.

According to Lightfoot, the county faces about $750,000 in additional costs for the remainder of this year and approximately $3 million next year as a result of the changes.

“We are in the process right now of trying to figure out where that money’s going to come from,” he said.

If reelected, Lightfoot said employee retention would be a top priority. He suggested developing stronger partnerships with local colleges to help create a pipeline of potential county employees.

Emergency medical services will also require attention, he said. Lightfoot said the state has directed counties to develop plans for providing emergency medical services, presenting a particular challenge for a county as large as St. Lawrence County.

“How do you come up with a plan for what you need? Where are you going to find them? Where are you going to house them? How are you going to pay for them?” he said.

He said the county’s emergency services committee recently presented information to legislators as officials work through the issue.

Lightfoot also pointed to future financial challenges involving county facilities. He said a funding arrangement connected to the county’s human services building is expected to expire in about six years.

Lightfoot said the county is doing well in several areas, including roads and bridges and financial oversight. He also said the county has increased its attention to maintaining its buildings and properties.

At the courthouse, he said the county is addressing aging steps and windows.

“We are looking at front steps, windows that are dying of old age in the courthouse,” Lightfoot said. “Taking care of what we have before it’s ruined.”

Solid waste remains another concern. Lightfoot said the county’s existing facility was not designed for its current use and that the county now hauls waste nearly 80 miles one way, increasing costs.

The county is also replacing aging equipment. Lightfoot said three trailers and a tractor need to be replaced and that newer equipment could reduce fuel costs.

He said the county could improve its long-term planning for equipment replacement and building maintenance, although those decisions must be balanced against immediate financial needs.

Lightfoot said he believes county legislators are motivated to serve residents and make responsible decisions.

“I think that myself and most of the people over there are there for the right reasons,” he said. “They want to see things done in the right and proper way.”

He also said legislators have a responsibility to remain engaged with the communities they represent.

“We ran for election to serve in that position, so do what’s expected,” Lightfoot said.