County adds public information officer in an arrangement with Niagara

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 October 2023 at 3:13 pm

One of first actions: creating Facebook page for county government

ALBION – Orleans County has a part-time public information officer in a new arrangement with Niagara County.

Kevin Schuler, Niagara’s PIO since 2020, will work five hours a week for Orleans County. He has been in the communications field for 29 years.

Orleans will pay Niagara $19,600 for the first year and then a cost of living increase the second year. The agreement goes from Sept. 27, 2023 through Sept. 26, 2025.

Schuler in his first week set up a Facebook page for the county government (click here) and has put out three press releases. The first press release was on the Legislature voting to protect local tributaries from STAMP wastewater, with the second on Sheriff’s Week.

There also was a joint press release for the two counties with their county clerks reminding people to submit eye exams or go to the DMV offices if they had their driver’s license renewed between March 1, 2020 and Aug. 31, 2021. Otherwise they could have their license suspended.

Schuler said he will send press releases to local media outlets, and post to the county website and Facebook page.

“I look to consistently put out content (and share other’s content) that covers the broad scope of services, programs and issues that are in the purview of county government,” he said.

Legislators in the resolution approving the agreement said Orleans has a long history of collaboration with Niagara, including through the Niagara Orleans Regional Alliance and the Niagara Orleans Regional Land Improvement Corporation.