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101 Ways Erie County Government Serves You

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Parks

Maintains a system of nine county parks, four natural habitat areas and 3,500 acres of county forest land

1.Maintains a system of nine county parks, four natural habitat areas and 3,500 acres of county forest land

2.Provides year-round recreation for county residents

Provides year-round recreation for county residents
Operates two golf courses and two beaches

3. Operates two golf courses and two beaches

4. Hosts festivals and events for people of all ages

Hosts festivals and events for people of all ages
Protects regionally important areas of scenic, environmental and cultural significance

5. Protects regionally important areas of scenic, environmental and cultural significance

Health

Provides free testing for sexually transmitted diseases

6.Provides free testing for sexually transmitted diseases

7.Tests for lead in old homes and provides services for children with lead poisoning

Tests for lead in old homes and provides services for children with lead poisoning
Conducts health inspections of restaurants, swimming pools, summer camps, beaches and other recreational venues

8.Conducts health inspections of restaurants, swimming pools, summer camps, beaches and other recreational venues

9.Monitors and controls insect-borne diseases through the vector control program

Monitors and controls insect-borne diseases through the vector control program
Provides free rabies clinics and sends specimens for rabies testing

10.Provides free rabies clinics and sends specimens for rabies testing

Commission
Status of

on the
Women

Collaborates with community organizations to maximize services for women and girls

11.Collaborates with community organizations to maximize services for women and girls

12.Publishes data on women and girls to target need for education, policy recommendations and services

Publishes data on women and girls to target need for education, policy recommendations and services
Runs board of community stakeholders

13.Runs board of community stakeholders

14.Creating a Domestic Violence Tribute Garden in Isleview Park

Creating a Domestic Violence Tribute Garden in Isleview Park
Sponsors an annual Pay Equity Event to raise awareness

15.Sponsors an annual Pay Equity Event to raise awareness

Public

Works

Maintains over a thousand miles of roadways and hundreds of bridges and culverts

16.Maintains over a thousand miles of roadways and hundreds of bridges and culverts

17.Executes major capital projects every year

Executes major capital projects every year
Manages all county-owned buildings and grounds

18.Manages all county-owned buildings and grounds

19.Regulates all commercial weighing and measuring devices, including gas and fuel pumps and meters in the county

Regulates all commercial weighing and measuring devices, including gas and fuel pumps and meters in the county
Maintains county-owned fleet of vehicles

20.Maintains county-owned fleet of vehicles

Real
Tax

Property Services

Collects real property taxes for 269,773 parcels in Erie County

21.Collects real property taxes for 269,773 parcels in Erie County

22.Maintains current real property tax maps and data

Maintains current real property tax maps and data
Conducts annual in-rem property sales

23.Conducts annual in-rem property sales

24.Monitors PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreements through the local ECIDA

Monitors PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreements through the local ECIDA
Works with municipalities across the county to keep tax assessments current

25.Works with municipalities across the county to keep tax assessments current

Senior

Services

Engages, provides programming and advocates for adults over 60 especially low income, minority and disabled elderly persons

26.Engages, provides programming and advocates for adults over 60 especially low income, minority and disabled elderly persons

27.Provides resources and programming for caregivers

Provides resources and programming for caregivers
Offers fitness classes and nutrition programs to keep seniors fit, active and healthy

28.Offers fitness classes and nutrition programs to keep seniors fit, active and healthy

29.Coordinates the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)

Coordinates the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)
Provides transportation for seniors through the "Going Places" van service

30.Provides transportation for seniors through the "Going Places" van service

Emergency

Services

Supports and trains Erie County's 97 fire departments

31.Supports and trains Erie County's 97 fire departments

32.Manages emergency operations during county-wide disasters

Manages emergency operations during county-wide disasters
Maintains a county-wide radio system and dispatches all ambulance services in Erie County

33.Maintains a county-wide radio system and dispatches all ambulance services in Erie County

34.Trains all ambulance crews, EMTs and parademics

Trains all ambulance crews, EMTs and parademics
Manages Local Emergency Planning Committee to coordinate services and personnel for future disasters

35.Manages Local Emergency Planning Committee to coordinate services and personnel for future disasters

Environment

& Planning

Manages county-wide agricultural plan

36.Manages county-wide agricultural plan

37.Maintains sewers and wastewater treatment

Maintains sewers and wastewater treatment
Curates the process of funding local arts and cultural groups

38.Curates the process of funding local arts and cultural groups

39.Coordinates regional planning and economic development with other local governments and agencies

Coordinates regional planning and economic development with other local governments and agencies
Funds community planning and housing projects and provides funding for small business loans and start-ups

40.Funds community planning and housing projects and provides funding for small business loans and start-ups

Medicaid
General

Inspector

Roots out waste, fraud and abuse of $1 billion in Medicaid funding in Erie County

41.Roots out waste, fraud and abuse of $1 billion in Medicaid funding in Erie County

42.Actively investigates and audits Medicaid providers

Actively investigates and audits Medicaid providers
Produces reports regarding Medicaid usage in Erie County

43.Produces reports regarding Medicaid usage in Erie County

44.Maintains confidential tip line for reporting waste, fraud or abuse

Maintains confidential tip line for reporting waste, fraud or abuse
Works closely with NYS Medicaid Inspector General's Office

45.Works closely with NYS Medicaid Inspector General's Office

Probation

Provides probation services to all Erie County courts

46.Provides probation services to all Erie County courts

47.Manages cases for nearly 10,000 adults and juveniles

Manages cases for nearly 10,000 adults and juveniles
Operates an Alternatives to Incarceration Program

48.Operates an Alternatives to Incarceration Program

49.Coordinates with social workers to supervise incarcerated defendants on release

Coordinates with social workers to supervise incarcerated defendants on release
Maintains a community service program for juveniles on probation

50.Maintains a community service program for juveniles on probation

Office for

the Disabled

Provides advocacy for people with any disability in order to ensure equal access to county services

51.Provides advocacy for people with any disability in order to ensure equal access to county services

52.Collaborates with disability community organizations on awareness events, career fairs and job mentoring days

Collaborates with disability community organizations on awareness events, career fairs and job mentoring days
Publishes a Guide to Services of resources for people with disabilities

53.Publishes a Guide to Services of resources for people with disabilities

54.Provides guidance on Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility issues to residents and municipalities

Provides guidance on Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility issues to residents and municipalities
Helps local residents with applications to services

55.Helps local residents with applications to services

Social

Services

Investigates allegations of abuse and neglect of children and vulnerable adults

56.Investigates allegations of abuse and neglect of children and vulnerable adults

57.Supports and assists foster parents and places children in foster care

Supports and assists foster parents and places children in foster care
Administers assistance programs, including HEAP, SNAP, child care assistance and Medicaid

58.Administers assistance programs, including HEAP, SNAP, child care assistance and Medicaid

59.Assists domestic violence victims, homeless individuals, juvenile defenders and those struggling with substance abuse

Assists domestic violence victims, homeless individuals, juvenile defenders and those struggling with substance abuse
Coordinates funding for youth programming

60.Coordinates funding for youth programming

Equal
Opportunity

Employment
Office

Administers and monitors affirmative action programs for county government

61.Administers and monitors affirmative action programs for county government

62.Investigates harassment complaints

Investigates harassment complaints
Audits county contracts for participation of minority- and women-owned businesses

63.Audits county contracts for participation of minority- and women-owned businesses

64.Monitors county hiring procedures to ensure compliance with affirmative action laws

Monitors county hiring procedures to ensure compliance with affirmative action laws
Provides resources to minority- and women-owned businesses

65.Provides resources to minority- and women-owned businesses

Library

Provides residents and visitors of Erie County with free reading and programming for the past 175 years

66.Provides residents and visitors of Erie County with free reading and programming for the past 175 years

67.Maintains 37 locations county-wide

Maintains 37 locations county-wide
Runs an active website with a library catalog and research database

68.Runs an active website with a library catalog and research database

69.Manages 3 million items (books, maps, audio, video and digital)

Manages 3 million items (books, maps, audio, video and digital)
Coordinates bookmobile services to underserved communities

70.Coordinates bookmobile services to underserved communities

Mental

Health

Directs a local, comprehensive mental disability planning system

71.Directs a local, comprehensive mental disability planning system

72.Maximizes state, federal and voluntary support for programs

Maximizes state, federal and voluntary support for programs
Develops effective systems that assess and monitor the quality and effectiveness of care the mental disability programs deliver

73.Develops effective systems that assess and monitor the quality and effectiveness of care the mental disability programs deliver

74.Monitors the quality of care in contractual agency programs

Monitors the quality of care in contractual agency programs
Assures coordination of mental health, mental retardation/developmental disabilities and alcohol and substance abuse services

75.Assures coordination of mental health, mental retardation/developmental disabilities and alcohol and substance abuse services

Office
Public

of
Advocacy

Provides advocacy services to residents of Erie County

76.Provides advocacy services to residents of Erie County

77.Runs Commission on the Status of Women to promote gender equity

Runs Commission on the Status of Women to promote gender equity
Organizes events with community partners to promote collaboration

78.Organizes events with community partners to promote collaboration

79.Offers education, analysis of legislation and policy recommendations

Offers education, analysis of legislation and policy recommendations
Coordinates annual United Way campaign

80.Coordinates annual United Way campaign

Veterans

Services

Provides advocacy services to residents of Erie County

81.Ensures that every veteran in the county is registered in the VA System and is fully aware of all the benefits that they have earned

82.Works to make veterans an economic force in education, employment and business development

Works to make veterans an economic force in education, employment and business development
Develops programs with local colleges and universities

83.Develops programs with local colleges and universities

84.Partners with the Dept. of Mental Health on a "peer to peer" mentoring program for returning veterans

Partners with the Dept. of Mental Health on a "peer to peer" mentoring program for returning veterans
Processes the burials of indigent veterans and next-of-kin of veterans

85.Processes the burials of indigent veterans and next-of-kin of veterans

Erie County

Sheriffs

Provides road patrols 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and regular aviation and marine patrols

86.Provides road patrols 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and regular aviation and marine patrols

87.Investigates all crimes reported to the Sheriff's Office

Investigates all crimes reported to the Sheriff's Office
Executes warrants from Department of Social Services cases

88.Executes warrants from Department of Social Services cases

89.Provides bomb removal and SWAT support to local law enforcement

Provides bomb removal and SWAT support to local law enforcement
Investigates fires happening within Sheriff's patrol districts

90.Investigates fires happening within Sheriff's patrol districts

Erie County

Clerk

Records and keeps legal and official documents and records

91.Records and keeps legal and official documents and records

92.Issues permits and licenses for automobiles, firearms, hunting and fishing

Issues permits and licenses for automobiles, firearms, hunting and fishing
Ensures all court records are appropriately filed and maintained

93.Ensures all court records are appropriately filed and maintained

94.Administers laws related to motor vehicle sales, vehicle registration and driver licensing

Administers laws related to motor vehicle sales, vehicle registration and driver licensing
Maintains six auto bureaus and one mobile unit

95.Maintains six auto bureaus and one mobile unit

Erie County

Legislature

Provides legislative oversight for Erie County government

96.Provides legislative oversight for Erie County government

97.Holds legislative sessions and committee meetings

Holds legislative sessions and committee meetings
Adopts and debates the annual Erie County budget

98.Adopts and debates the annual Erie County budget

99.Passes local laws, arts, ordinances and resolutions

Passes local laws, arts, ordinances and resolutions
Exercises oversight over the daily operations of county government

100.Exercises oversight over the daily operations of county government

101.Liaises with constituents to help them navigate county services

Liaises with constituents to help them navigate county services

Contact

General Erie County Information:
(716) 858-6000

Edward A. Rath County Office Building
95 Franklin Street
Buffalo, New York 14202

Erie County Departments & Agencies