Trending
Belpre officials found out earlier this month that another piece of the puzzle has fallen into place as they look to the future. The city received $85,000 as part of the state Housing Technical Assistance Program, to be used to help develop a comprehensive plan to update its business and housing infrastructure.
"It was critical for us. We know that right now, Belpre is in a very big growth mode," said Mayor Susan Abdella. "We need to work on making sure that we are a community that is open and embracing change."
To that end, potential employers and developers will have no trouble believing Belpre is working on everything from buildings in the floodplain to updating water and sewer lines. Abdella estimated the water lines have not been updated in more than 70 years.
But necessary change can lead to growing pains, and Abdella appears well aware there will be challenges created even as opportunities open.
"As we build this new water tank, it's going to be higher than our current tanks," she said. "There's going to be the potential for a lot of leaks based on old lines in the lower end of town because of pressure changes."
That indicates a level of detail that has already gone into the process that should reassure residents city officials are not plowing full steam ahead without understanding potential problems.
Abdella said her goal for the comprehensive plan underway is that both the past and future work together to create "a roadmap to success for growth and development in our community."
All signs point to a city government and community very much ready to make that happen.