LAWRENCE COUNTY Officials OK measures to spur growth

County commissioners agreed to join a regional development agency.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The commissioners are adding a few new tools to help spur economic development in Lawrence County.
Commissioners, in a 2-1 vote Tuesday, agreed to start talks to join the Southwestern Regional Commission, a Pittsburgh-based development agency, and hire an attorney to draw up papers to create two new authorities that are expected to help bring new business to the area.
Wayne Gerhold of Pittsburgh will write the ordinances and other documents creating county redevelopment and general purpose authorities. He will be paid no more than $5,000, county officials said.
The autonomous boards would be responsible for procuring underdeveloped land for new business and helping to finance infrastructure improvements such as roads, sewers and bridges.
County commissioners would appoint the authority members.
Fosnaught votes no
Commissioner Ed Fosnaught voted against hiring the Pittsburgh attorney, contending that the paperwork could be done by county solicitor John Hodge.
He noted that he does support creating the redevelopment authority, but not a general purpose authority.
Fosnaught said he isn't clear about what a general purpose authority would do.
Commissioners Roger DeCarbo and Brian Burick noted that Hodge is busy handling court appeals for countywide reassessment and other matters.
Gale Measel, a board member from the Lawrence County Economic Development Corporation, praised commissioners for creating the two authorities.
"It represents a chance to create opportunities that will change the way people live in Lawrence County," Measel said.
Powers
A redevelopment authority would have the ability to take land by eminent domain for private development. The county is only able to take land by eminent domain for public use. Before any land can be taken, the authority and municipality involved must both agree on the project.
A general purpose authority would have access to special loans and grants through the state and federal government not available to any other organization, county officials said.
James Gagliano, county planning director, said it could be used to finance sewer projects for several municipalities or help start regional police departments in the county.
Planning commission
The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission includes nine other counties and the city of Pittsburgh.
The commission's services include providing paid federal lobbyists and a staff that helps members with economic development projects. It will cost Lawrence about $12,000 annually if the county becomes a member.
Fosnaught again opposed the move, noting that the county will have to give up control of its state transportation money.
Lawrence County is one of the state's few counties that controls its state transportation projects. Other counties are lumped into regions, such as the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, and transportation projects are decided on regional basis.
DeCarbo said he's not concerned about giving up control of the transportation money. He also noted that Democrat Edward Rendell, govenor-elect, is expected to revamp how that money is distributed, and Lawrence County probably won't have its own transportation committee anyway.
DeCarbo said it could take about a year before Lawrence County is admitted into the organization.
cioffi@vindy.com