Stormwater plan consultant hired

A State College consultant has been retained to develop a stormwater management plan for Potter County.

Herbert, Rowland & Grubic Inc. (HRG) will be paid $9,000, while the county will provide in-kind services with a value of $3,000 for the state-mandated plan.

The $9,000 is being provided by the Pa. Dept. of Environmental Protection.

HRG will work with the Potter County Planning Commission to complete the plan in two phases.

Phase I of the study -- which will pinpoint areas across the county prone to flooding through the help of local municipalities -- will be completed in 2008.

The plan will provide an outline to deal with stormwater runoff. Sites providing the largest problems will be identified by township and borough officials.

Eventually, the municipalities will need to pass an ordinance that will outline how they are going to control the stormwater runoff. That will force developers to address the problem in any construction plans.

Similar plans are being created in McKean, Elk and Warren counties.