Economic Development Consultant Sought

Canonsburg Manager Terry Hazlett said the borough knows that when it comes to long-term planning, having a blueprint works.

That's why Council this week unanimously voted to seek the services of an economic development consultant.

Council President John Bevec has said that while all his colleagues on the board have great ideas on how to revitalize the borough,

And Hazlett said that's exactly what happened when the borough a few years ago sought the help of a consultant to guide the revitalization of Town Park.

"It worked wonders for us at the park," he said. "We had a plan that helped us turn the park from one that, like most municipal parks, finishes the year in the red to one that finishes in the black."

Hazlett said he expects the cost of the consultant to be in the range of $20,000.

While that consultant might say the borough needs to cater to tourism or the booming natural gas industry, he said he thinks he knows what the first priority identified will be.

"I'm pretty sure infrastructure improvements will be first," Hazlett said.