After recent storms ravaged our region, a local state representative is meeting with public safety officials.

Representative Ryan Bizzarro sat down with them to discuss issues facing emergency response teams.

It was good timing, coming on the heels of tornados and severe storms in our area, but it was actually planned before all that, with the state budget vote in mind.

Bizzarro wanted to hear from the people on the front lines of emergencies, to field their concerns before he votes on the budget.

Several police from the Millcreek, Erie, and State Police departments joined in the talks, as well as fire chiefs and the Director of Public Safety for the county, Todd Geers.

A couple of concerns on the table were staffing and, of course, funding for emergency services.

"There are a lot of problems regarding the time and the amount of manpower that they have to service those who are in emergencies on the streets," said Representative Bizzarro. "We're trying to find ways that the state can help the county government deal with response times and deal with those issues with different various public safety systems that we can hopefully help fund."

Bizzarro said public safety will continue to be a priority while he's in office.