BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

CANTON -- St. Lawrence County legislators have signed off on a budget modification that will allow the Department of Social Services to repair damaged flooring in the basement of the Harold B. Smith building.

According to DSS Commissioner Joseph Seeber, DSS maintains a large server infrastructure for storage and access in the basement of the facility.

But flooding in 2021 damaged the raised flooring in the basement, necessitating repairs and replacement this year.

He told legislators the damage was significant, with the raised flooring being heavily damaged by the water.

In some areas, hatches are unable to be opened, he said.

According to the resolution, the raised floor has not been replaced since the flooding in 2021, making it even more difficult to maintain critical equipment for DSS.

Though a modification of $45,000 is required to pay for the floor, Seeber said the issues were known prior to budget planning which allowed DSS to plan ahead and budget appropriately.

"This resolution is just to move money around, we already budgeted for this," Seeber said.

In other action, legislators also signed off on a budget modification to roll over $2.16 million in remaining funding for child care throughout the county.

Seeber told legislators DSS is allocated funding from the New York State Child Care Block Grant, with funds rolled over from the previous fiscal year.

In total, there were $2,162,178 in funds remaining from the prior fiscal year for the Child Care Block Grant, along with $366,155 in unspent ARPA funds as well.

Seeber said the modification to the budget is to "just clean up the budget to make sure it goes back to the Block Grant for day care services."

He said child care throughout the county has grown exponentially, with 44 providers in July of 2022, 61 in July 2023 and now 87 in July 2024.

With the number of child care providers increasing, Seeber said the number of unique individuals enrolled also rose.

In June 2022, 174 children were enrolled, while 350 were enrolled in June 2023 and 473 were enrolled in June 2024.

Seeber told legislators that the ARPA funds was "money well spent."

He said that access to child care has improved with so much state and federal aid, however Seeber credited the expansion of eligibility as a large reason that so many families are able to utilize day care services as well.

"The broadening of eligibility standards means more people can send their kids to child care," he said.

Seeber also credited the Child Care Council and county for assisting with recruitment and the funding of numerous childcare facilities in recent years.