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STATE OF THE COUNTY ADDRESS
2008
Good Evening.
I bring you this message as a map of where we are today, where we are going, and where we need to be on down the road. I also bring it not as a glass half empty, but one half full.
First, here are some of the things of where we have been as a county this past year:
I.T. – Under the supervision of Mike Bischoff, a new department head, IT has been increasing their support for County departments and consolidating our system to reduce equipment and software costs needed to run the county.
2) For 2008, we increased the County’s Veterans’ tax exemption.
3) After lively debate, we chose Waste Management to run the Solid Waste Department’s 9 million dollar Gas to Energy Project, a project that is not only environmentally friendly, but will provide long term financial benefits to the County.
4) In addition, the next cell of the landfill completed its permitting process so that its expansion is on the way.
5) The Buildings and Grounds Committee has begun an extensive space and facilities study to identify necessary capital improvements to our buildings as well to see where we stand on the space needs here on the county complex for now and into the future.
6) The Planning Committee and Department has completed the overhaul of the IDA with the appointment of Kipp Hicks as the full time Director. The purchase of a home for the IDA will ensure Madison County’s progressive, practical approach to Economic Development for many years to come.
7) The Board also brought finality to our policy on the siting and taxation of windmills.
8) In Probation, we began implementation of the electronic monitoring bracelet program. This is clearly forward thinking for Madison County, and exactly what we need for our future. New Department head, Karen Birch spearheaded this bold new step, and it will bring dividends well into the future.
9) In the area of Public Safety, we have certainly made head way on the new Radio Communication System with the hiring of Langone and Associates as our consultants. This project, with cost estimates as high as $17,000,000, should be completed some time in 2010. This will be the largest single investment the County has ever made.
10) We also restructured the Public Health Department to ensure its effectiveness and efficiency. The Department has been going though a self-evaluation, identifying core functions, and setting goals. The restructuring is just one of their achievements and the department is moving forward thanks to a very dedicated staff.
11) The County Clerk’s office is well on the way to becoming a paperless department in the future.
12) The Madison County discount prescription plan was implemented in 2007.
13) This was the first full year of PINS (Persons In Need of Supervision) being completely under the supervision of the Department of Social Services.
14) After years of a decline, there was an increase in financial aid on public assistance for the second year in a row. Medicaid serves one in ten county residents, nearly 8,000 individuals. With a 10 million dollar price tag this is clearly the single largest expenditure in the budget.
15) Personnel has led the development of one of the most remarkable programs in New York State—the development of a pay for performance standard. Not everyone is happy about this change, but this was to be expected. There will be glitches, and they will be worked out. The Board believes that this is the answer to reward those who give exceptional performance day to day in Madison County.
These are just some of the things from 07.
Now on to the future. The tone has been set, now let’s set our sights high as we embark on a new year together as one. The bus is leaving from the station with positive riders aboard; the ride will be all inclusive and positive and will set the path and nature of business for years to come in Madison County.
There are 19 leaders in this room who have been brought together to do a job. Each and every one of you has been elected by a town or district in which you represent the stockholders of the County. My job is to “herd the cats” so to speak, not easy by anyone’s standards. As we close this decade let us do it in a fashion that is good for the overall good of Madison County.
Highway Services need to be brought in the most efficient manner possible with the most modern equipment available. We need to look at helping our Towns bring highway costs down whether it’s through consolidation or just plain taking over some of the services. But, costs will certainly drive the initiatives here.
Our buildings use will be looked at carefully, with the expectation that we will utilize space in the most efficient manner possible. No department will be sacred.
The Landfill is one of the most modern landfills throughout the State; we must stay on the cutting edge of technology to ensure a modern solid waste facility well into the next decade and beyond. We have planned an expansion for the next 100 years, and we intend to do our part to see it realized.
Planning, including Long Range Planning, is a key component of our future. The Planning and the Long Range Planning committees, together with the Planning Department, will lay out the ground work and create a map for our future growth. I believe with the help of Supervisor Moran and Department Head Jack Miller and the committees, Planning should be split into two parts, one for routine business and another group to form a long range comprehensive plan for Madison County. This will take commitment, funding, and a determination by employees and Supervisors alike to give us a map of where we need to be well into the future.
Elections will be one of the busiest departments this year, not only because of the presidential election and primaries but also because we will be choosing and implementing a new and much unknown voting system.
Our human service departments—Public Health, Mental Health, and Social Services—are run by some of the most stalwart and courageous people in our county. Each day they are faced with meeting the needs of a disadvantaged population, many of whom confront overwhelming financial, mental, and health problems.
Each day the staff of these departments may be forced to look a 5 year old in the eyes and tell them to they are not going to see their parents for awhile, not because of the actions of the child but of bad decisions made by parents. The big question here is how do we balance spending on prevention and on possible solutions. These situations in our human service departments are like an emotional roller coaster ride when you can see the best of a program that works, or the worst humanity has to offer.
As always, it is up to the government to come up with a solution. We, as a Board, have a responsibility to assist the chairmen of the Human Service Committees, Alex Stepanski from Stockbridge and John Sulka from Brookfield, along with department heads Dr. Yonai, Eric Faisst, Mike Fitzgerald on finding new solutions to our age old problems.
We must ask how do we make our prevention services better? Do we give tours of the jail system and scare our kids into making good life choices or do we create a work program that really works. The question asked by our youth must be “Do I really want to be in jail or do I want to be a productive member of society for the rest of my life?” We must create ways for our children to think for themselves, to realize that their actions really do have consequences that can last a life time. Realistically, what we do will not help everyone, but our responsibility is to be sure that those that can be helped are.
And, there are specific issues that must be addressed. Child obesity and diabetes along with childhood prevention education should be a priority in changing attitudes in the way we behave as well as the way we eat.
Two growing areas of our demographics are our seniors and veterans. As the baby boomers grow older, affordable senior housing will be more in need. Is there something we can do to assist communities in providing for that need? And, as our Vets age and new ones finally come home, it is critical that we care for them and return to them what they have given us.
We must have improved relations with the Oneida Indian Nation; it is a necessity that we must all live with, like it or not. The Oneidas were here before us, and they are here to stay. As a County, we have not been dealt a fair hand by the State or federal governments; however, it is up to us as a County to deal with the situation. As I have seen in life, and I’m sure so many of you have also seen in a crisis between neighbors or family members, communication is key to resolving issues. There are those who think it may be fruitless for us to think this way, but we must try to coexist peacefully, in a friendly and cooperative manner. I invite the Oneida Indian Nation to join us in a cooperative effort to move beyond our differences and to move forward together in making Madison County a wonderful place for all of us to live and prosper.
As I close, I want to say that we must make the hard decisions, not political decisions but ones that will benefit everyone—all 70,000 residents of our County. Everything comes at a price, but we cannot nay say any idea or thought that may bear fruit. The course has been set for us to see if we are out in front on these issues or if we will merely weather the storm.
Finally, I want to thank the Board for the confidence they have shown me in choosing me to lead their efforts for the next two years. I believe we have excellent Supervisors and an excellent staff to get done what needs to be accomplished. Let’s all resolve to do our part in being creative, positive, and forward thinking as we do the County’s business.
Good night and thank you all for coming.
John M. Becker, Chairman of the Madison County Board of Supervisors
