BY ANDY GARDNER

North Country This Week

CANTON -- The St. Lawrence County legislature on Monday, Oct. 7 named a new emergency services director and director of planning.

The legislators appointed Matthew Denner of Heuvelton as emergency services director. Denner has extensive experience in emergency services. He has been a volunteer and paid EMS driver in Ogdensburg with advanced EMT certification. He has also been a firefighter in Hermon and Heuvelton, is dive captain of the county's underwater team, and is part of the HAZMAT team.

"He's got a lot of fire academy training," said Keith Zimmerman, former director of the St. Lawrence County Planning Office who had also been serving as interim EMS director.

Legislator Tony Arquett, D-Helena, said Denner was selected after a "rigorous interviewing process.

"Mr. Denner came out on top. He comes out very eager to help St. Lawrence County and I wish him the best of luck," Arquett said.

The board also named Jason Pfotenhauer as director of the Planning Office, now that Zimmerman has retired. Pfotenhauer has been serving as deputy director.

He started working for St. Lawrence County in 1996, all of his 23 years in the Planning Office.

Legislators applauded Pfotenhauer's promotion after voting on it.

"I offer my congratulations to Jason. He's a long-term very faithful, able employee of St. Lawrence County and the Planning Department," said Legislator Larry Denesha, R-DeKalb. "I can't imagine anyone more suited to the job than Jason."

"I congratulate Jason. I'm not sure if you could have found a better candidate and a better person to fill that position," said Legislator David Haggard, D-Potsdam.

"I think you are an excellent choice. You've been an excellent deputy," said legislature Chair Joseph Lightfoot, R-Ogdensburg.