Canonsburg Council Talks Economic Development

Manager Terry Hazlett said ideas for how to revitalize the community isn't a problem—everyone on council, as well as the Main Street manager and mayor had ideas of how to help kickstart more economic development.

What the borough needs help with is how to prioritize all those ideas.

That's why council will likely seek the help of a consultant to help it more effectively tackle the issue, which was the subject of a special meeting Monday night.

"We need to let everyone know we're open for business," council President John Bevec, who called the meeting, said. "And when these projects are discussed on council, those not in agreement with the majority need to agree to disagree and move forward."

While the meeting's focus was development goals, the workshop also touched on current economic building blocks such as Sarris Candies, the library, the borough's musical heritage and Town Park, as well as the two-block downtown, which Bevec said was a major asset.

Bevec also solicited council to come up with challenges the borough faced, which included a reluctance to change.

At the end of the meeting, council asked Hazlett and Main Street Manager Nadeen Steffey to prepare a proposal for services for such a consultant that council could possibly vote to advertise later this month.

And Steffey said she thinks it's a great step.

"I am encouraged that council is agreeing to seek the assistance of a consulting firm to help guide them in the direction they seek," she said. "From a community development and economic standpoint, I feel it was a positive step in continuing the revitalization of the entire borough."

Hazlett said the borough took a similar approach to revitalizing Town Park—something he said "helped turn the park around."

Reached Tuesday, Bevec said he was in favor of the possibility of hiring a consultant.

"I think it would be the smart way to get because none of us are experts," he said.