BY JEFF CHUDZINSKI 

North Country This Week

CANTON — The St. Lawrence County Public Health Department has received $3,000 to educate the public about heating and cooler centers available throughout the county. 

Legislators on the services committee approved a resolution during the March 20 meeting to accept the funds from the New York State Association of County Health Officials. The funds will also be used to market the heating and cooling centers to the public. 

Officials say the centers are meant to offer relief to community members in need of relief from extreme temperatures. 

The agreement is set to run from April 1, 2023 through July 31, 2023. 

The funds will be disbursed to cover $750 for central printing, $750 for commercial printing and $1,500 for advertising fees and expenses. 

In other action, the committee also signed off on an agreement for the Impaired Driver Program (IDP) Service for the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. 

According to Community Services Director Jay Ulrich, the agreement is one that the county periodically signs with the state and has come due once again. 

Officials say the agreement “serves to better communicate and more clearly define the role and responsibilities of the IDP to Program Participants and the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.” 

Legislators also signed off on an agreement with the Seaway Valley Prevention Council for the New York State Public Health Corps (NYSPHC) Fellowship Program. 

Under the terms of the deal, the New York State Department of Health will work with local health departments and community partners “to recruit and deploy NYSPHC fellows across the state (excluding New York City), who will commit to a full-time, paid-position and a one-year term.” 

The program will also help build public health capacity to support COVID-19 response operations and “increase preparedness for future public health emergencies.” 

With the agreement, Public Health will be able to place up to two fellows with the Seaway Valley Prevention Council and will provide program oversight, technology equipment and supplies needed from grant funding “while the fellows employment relationship will remain with the state.”