Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Comprehensive Plan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mifflin County planning department reports 700 responses to community survey as comprehensive-plan work continues
Summary
County planning staff updated commissioners on a comprehensive-plan update led by Michael Baker International, reporting about 700 survey responses, multiple focus groups and a timeline to complete the plan by year-end; county received a Commonwealth grant covering about half the cost.
Mifflin County planning staff told commissioners the county’s comprehensive-plan update is underway and that public outreach has produced roughly 700 survey responses.
The planning director said the update began in July 2020 and that Michael Baker International is the consultant leading the work. The county established a planning advisory committee with municipal and stakeholder representation, convened multiple focus groups on housing, economic development, education and social services, and produced a community profile that covers demographics, utilities, transportation, parks and business startup data.
Staff said the consultant and the advisory committee have run 90-minute focus groups and are preparing summaries. The next advisory committee meeting is scheduled for March 5, at which time the group will review survey results and set tasks for the next eight months. The planning director estimated the county would complete a draft plan near the end of the year and that the document will identify several implementable goals and objectives rather than attempt to “solve all the problems in the county.”
Commissioners noted the county obtained a Commonwealth grant that covers roughly half the project cost; in the meeting a county official said the grant amount was about $68,000. Staff said outreach included radio, newspapers, social media and promotion through the county website, the Juniata River Visitors Bureau and the Chamber of Commerce.
The planning director said the plan will identify likely funding sources and partnerships with municipal and nonprofit organizations to carry out implementation after adoption.
