Norwood recognized by governor for planning efforts
It's said that failing to plan is planning to fail, but in Crawford County that won't happen on Zachary Norwood's watch.
This month, the planning director's work has paid off as the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania recognized Norwood as a recipient of the 2025 Governor's Award for Local Government Excellence.
Norwood was one of 19 officials in local government to receive the honor, which recognizes officials for their dedication to improving public services through innovative initiatives.
The award is presented annually during Local Government Week and recognizes people focused on community partnerships, fiscal accountability, and sound land use.
Norwood, who moved to Crawford County and joined the planning department 10 years ago, took the seat of director eight years ago.
Under his leadership, the planning office has undertaken various initiatives, including adopting the Crawford Inspired comprehensive plan and investing in physical amenities.
Norwood's work has supported investments like millions in funding for local parks and trails, the county's ongoing housing rehabilitation program, and attraction of private sector investment — such as Evans Square, Adams Place and the proposed redevelopment of the blighted nursing home in Cambridge Springs.
A decade ago, when Norwood first joined, the planning office had adopted a comprehensive plan and had numerous outstanding grant funds that needed to be administered for various projects and programs.
'I took on the role of starting the implementation of the comprehensive plan but also management and oversight of various grant programs,' he said.
He focused on initiatives like the Community Development Block Grant program and the county's Act 13 program. Over the past decade, he has expanded the list to include other federal and state resources for investment.
A key component for Norwood has been community engagement and communication.
'One of the most predominant ways we engage and secure public voices is through the comprehensive planning process,' he said.
The comprehensive plan is like a road map that the county produces every 10 years and guides the county's decision-making.
They do surveys, hold meetings, send out direct mailings and engage residents online.
'Every policy we put out, every grant we go after, every project or initiative we're investing in is intended to further the vision and further the priorities of our citizens that have been expressed in that planning process,' Norwood expressed.
He has also collaborated with various entities like Allegheny College, Crawford County and Crawford Tech, which have all partnered on a federal application for workforce development.
The commission is made of volunteer citizen planners and professional staff who aim to use solution-oriented services to grow the local economy, enhance quality of life and preserve the natural environment. It's that whole team that Norwood said deserves recognition.
'While this is a recognition for myself because I was the named individual, nobody gets to where they are by themselves,' he said. 'I am fortunate enough to have an outstanding staff with a number of extraordinary professionals and a thoroughly engaged planning commission. … And a board of commissioners who have supported us the entire way through and have bought into the vision of Crawford Inspired.'
In addition to his role in Crawford County, Norwood serves as the chair of the Northwest Section of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association, chair of the Northwest Regional Transportation Advisory Committee, and a member of the statewide County Planning Directors Association of Pennsylvania.
County Commissioner Chris Seeley applauded Norwood's achievement in a recent news release, saying, 'Zach has been a driving force behind Crawford County's ability to think long-term, work collaboratively, and deliver on a shared vision for the future. His leadership, professionalism and deep commitment to community engagement have elevated the work of our Planning agency and made a real difference across our county. This recognition is incredibly well-deserved.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
Aurora plans for road resurfacing, water main projects
The city of Aurora is planning for three infrastructure projects, including road resurfacings and water main replacements. The projects, expected to cost in total roughly $9.3 million, were approved by the Aurora City Council on May 27. None were discussed at that meeting as they were passed as part of the consent agenda, which is typically used for routine or non-controversial items that are all approved with one vote. The most costly of the infrastructure-related items approved at the meeting late last month was the 2025 Citywide Street Resurfacing-EAST project. Builders Paving, LLC, of Hillside was awarded a nearly $5.9 million contract to resurface almost 26 'lane miles' of city-maintained streets, according to a staff report included with the May 27 meeting's agenda. The company, which is certified by the Illinois Department of Transportation and has previously done resurfacing work for the city, submitted the lowest-cost bid that met the city's requirements, coming in around 2% under the estimated project cost, staff said in the report. The majority of the project's funding — $3.5 million — is coming from state Motor Fuel Taxes, according to the report. The resurfacing project will also be funded by municipal motor fuel taxes, water and sewer funds, the 9th Ward projects fund, neighborhood improvement capital funds and federal money through the Community Development Block Grant program. The work is expected to begin this month and be done by October. Staff said in the report that each street will be under construction for eight to 10 weeks, which will have some impact on local traffic. The 2025 Citywide Street Resurfacing Project as a whole is set to resurface a total of 43 'lane miles' of city-maintained streets, the staff report said. The project was broken up across two contracts: one covering streets on the East Side of the city and another covering the North and West Sides of the city. The resurfacing project's other contract, awarded to Geneva Construction Co. of Aurora for around $3.4 million, was approved by the Aurora City Council earlier in May. Geneva Construction's bid came in under projected costs by 9%, according to a different staff report about that contract. Construction has already begun on this earlier-approved phase of the resurfacing project but has not yet started on the East Side part, a city spokesperson said. Staff said in their report about the West Side part of the resurfacing project that the city maintains nearly 1,300 'lane miles' of streets which have a pavement surface life expectancy of 20 to 25 years. Last year, the city resurfaced around 38 'lane miles,' and in 2023 resurfaced around 43 miles of street lanes. Also approved at the May 27 meeting was a nearly $3.2 million contract with Miller Pipeline LLC to replace a water main off Sullivan Road on the city's West Side. The Beau Ridge North Water Main Improvements project looks to replace a water main prone to breaks in the area of Calico Drive, according to a staff report included with the meeting's agenda. Plus, staff said in the report that the 128 water service lines off the existing water main, most of which are currently lead, will also be replaced. Because the project is being done in a quiet, residential area, there will not be any major lane closures, the staff report said. Traffic will be minimally impacted, the report said, and water shutdowns will be planned and coordinated with impacted residents. Miller Pipeline's bid for the project was the lowest that met the city's requirements and came in around 4.5% under the project's expected cost, staff said in the report. Another water main project was also approved at the late May meeting: the Fox Valley Center Drive Water Main Replacement project. Fox Excavating, Inc. was awarded a roughly $210,000 contract for the project planned to replace a portion of the water main near Fox Valley Mall, which also has a history of frequent breaks, according to a separate staff report. Unlike the other water main replacement project, this one only has to replace two water service lines off the existing water main, the staff report said, and those two will only be partially replaced because they are both copper. In addition to the three infrastructure projects, the Aurora City Council also approved various vehicle and vehicle-related purchases as a part of its May 27 meeting consent agenda. One of the resolutions approved at that meeting, which had a price tag of a little over $1.7 million, allowed the city's Fleet Maintenance Division to purchase listed vehicles when there is the opportunity to do so. According to the staff report about the resolution, current market conditions make it difficult for the city to buy vehicles through the city's standard bidding and approval processes. In total, the city is looking to buy 27 vehicles, most of which are replacement hybrid squad cars for the Aurora Police Department. The Animal Control, Water and Sewer Maintenance, Downtown Maintenance, Electrical and Street Maintenance divisions are also set to get new vehicles. When it makes sense, electric or high-efficiency vehicles will be purchased, staff said in the report. In a separate resolution, the Aurora City Council approved the purchase of a new Ford Hybrid Utility Police Interceptor for around $52,000, which a staff report said will replace a similar car that was totaled in an accident. The City Council also approved, in a different resolution, the purchase of squad car cameras and related equipment for the Aurora Police Department from Axon Enterprises for almost $100,000. This equipment, a staff report said, will go to support the police department's growing vehicle fleet. Squad car cameras, in addition to body cameras, are required by police department policy and legal mandates, staff said in the report. Another vehicle-related purchase approved by the Aurora City Council was a pair of vehicle repair lifts for the new Public Works Facility. The two lifts will cost the city a total of roughly $98,000. rsmith@
Chicago Tribune
17 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Aurora plans for road resurfacing, water main projects
The city of Aurora is planning for three infrastructure projects, including road resurfacings and water main replacements. The projects, expected to cost in total roughly $9.3 million, were approved by the Aurora City Council on May 27. None were discussed at that meeting as they were passed as part of the consent agenda, which is typically used for routine or non-controversial items that are all approved with one vote. The most costly of the infrastructure-related items approved at the meeting late last month was the 2025 Citywide Street Resurfacing-EAST project. Builders Paving, LLC, of Hillside was awarded a nearly $5.9 million contract to resurface almost 26 'lane miles' of city-maintained streets, according to a staff report included with the May 27 meeting's agenda. The company, which is certified by the Illinois Department of Transportation and has previously done resurfacing work for the city, submitted the lowest-cost bid that met the city's requirements, coming in around 2% under the estimated project cost, staff said in the report. The majority of the project's funding — $3.5 million — is coming from state Motor Fuel Taxes, according to the report. The resurfacing project will also be funded by municipal motor fuel taxes, water and sewer funds, the 9th Ward projects fund, neighborhood improvement capital funds and federal money through the Community Development Block Grant program. The work is expected to begin this month and be done by October. Staff said in the report that each street will be under construction for eight to 10 weeks, which will have some impact on local traffic. The 2025 Citywide Street Resurfacing Project as a whole is set to resurface a total of 43 'lane miles' of city-maintained streets, the staff report said. The project was broken up across two contracts: one covering streets on the East Side of the city and another covering the North and West Sides of the city. The resurfacing project's other contract, awarded to Geneva Construction Co. of Aurora for around $3.4 million, was approved by the Aurora City Council earlier in May. Geneva Construction's bid came in under projected costs by 9%, according to a different staff report about that contract. Construction has already begun on this earlier-approved phase of the resurfacing project but has not yet started on the East Side part, a city spokesperson said. Staff said in their report about the West Side part of the resurfacing project that the city maintains nearly 1,300 'lane miles' of streets which have a pavement surface life expectancy of 20 to 25 years. Last year, the city resurfaced around 38 'lane miles,' and in 2023 resurfaced around 43 miles of street lanes. Also approved at the May 27 meeting was a nearly $3.2 million contract with Miller Pipeline LLC to replace a water main off Sullivan Road on the city's West Side. The Beau Ridge North Water Main Improvements project looks to replace a water main prone to breaks in the area of Calico Drive, according to a staff report included with the meeting's agenda. Plus, staff said in the report that the 128 water service lines off the existing water main, most of which are currently lead, will also be replaced. Because the project is being done in a quiet, residential area, there will not be any major lane closures, the staff report said. Traffic will be minimally impacted, the report said, and water shutdowns will be planned and coordinated with impacted residents. Miller Pipeline's bid for the project was the lowest that met the city's requirements and came in around 4.5% under the project's expected cost, staff said in the report. Another water main project was also approved at the late May meeting: the Fox Valley Center Drive Water Main Replacement project. Fox Excavating, Inc. was awarded a roughly $210,000 contract for the project planned to replace a portion of the water main near Fox Valley Mall, which also has a history of frequent breaks, according to a separate staff report. Unlike the other water main replacement project, this one only has to replace two water service lines off the existing water main, the staff report said, and those two will only be partially replaced because they are both copper. In addition to the three infrastructure projects, the Aurora City Council also approved various vehicle and vehicle-related purchases as a part of its May 27 meeting consent agenda. One of the resolutions approved at that meeting, which had a price tag of a little over $1.7 million, allowed the city's Fleet Maintenance Division to purchase listed vehicles when there is the opportunity to do so. According to the staff report about the resolution, current market conditions make it difficult for the city to buy vehicles through the city's standard bidding and approval processes. In total, the city is looking to buy 27 vehicles, most of which are replacement hybrid squad cars for the Aurora Police Department. The Animal Control, Water and Sewer Maintenance, Downtown Maintenance, Electrical and Street Maintenance divisions are also set to get new vehicles. When it makes sense, electric or high-efficiency vehicles will be purchased, staff said in the report. In a separate resolution, the Aurora City Council approved the purchase of a new Ford Hybrid Utility Police Interceptor for around $52,000, which a staff report said will replace a similar car that was totaled in an accident. The City Council also approved, in a different resolution, the purchase of squad car cameras and related equipment for the Aurora Police Department from Axon Enterprises for almost $100,000. This equipment, a staff report said, will go to support the police department's growing vehicle fleet. Squad car cameras, in addition to body cameras, are required by police department policy and legal mandates, staff said in the report. Another vehicle-related purchase approved by the Aurora City Council was a pair of vehicle repair lifts for the new Public Works Facility. The two lifts will cost the city a total of roughly $98,000.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Funding will upgrade septic treatment systems in Trumbull County neighborhood
WEATHERSFIELD TWP., Ohio (WKBN) – Trumbull County will be getting state money to upgrade its water and sewer systems. Trumbull County is getting $750,000 for the extension of wastewater collection lines in the McKinley Heights area in Weathersfield Township. Currently, residents' household septic treatment systems are failing and discharging into nearby surface water. A total of $5.75 million is being invested in 14 communities across 13 Ohio counties. The funding will help revitalize downtowns, provide vital public services, and upgrade water and sewer infrastructure. The money comes from the Flexible Grant and Residential Public Infrastructure Grant programs through the federal Community Development Block Grant. CDBG's main objective is to benefit the lives of low- and moderate-income residents, and improve the communities in which they live. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
