Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority Honored by American Water Resources Association

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James Tomaine accepts an award for Integrated Water Resources Management at the American Water Resources Association national conference, November 2022Congratulations to the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority (WVSA), who received an award this week from the American Water Resources Association (AWRA) for Integrated Water Resources Management.  The authority’s executive director Jim Tomaine accepted the award at a luncheon during AWRA’s national conference in Seattle.

The Integrated Water Resources Management Award honors exemplary teamwork on a complex water resource challenge.  WVSA received the award for their work creating a regional stormwater authority to help communities in Luzerne County reduce watershed pollution and comply with MS4 requirements. The project is noteworthy because it was the first regional stormwater authority in Pennsylvania, and it blazed a trail for others to pursue regional stormwater solutions. WVSA partners with more than 30 municipalities in Luzerne County on a joint Pollutant Reduction Plan and BMPs.  Working together, they are able to address pollution on the watershed scale, producing better results than small, uncoordinated projects could.  They are also able to achieve economies of scale that reduce the overall cost burden on individual communities.  The collaboration does not end there, however.  WVSA and its member municipalities work with Luzerne County and its flood protection authority on stream restoration and partner with private landowners, who install BMPs on their property in exchange for reduced stormwater fees.

HRG helped WVSA develop and implement this innovative program, and we are proud to have worked with their passionate and visionary leaders:  Jim Tomaine, Jeff Colella, Sandy Bartosiewics, Sam Guesto, Gerry Cross, and the entire WVSA board. This program also received the Governor’s Award for Local Government Excellence in 2018.

Adam Hartwig Joins HRG as Capital Management Analyst

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Adam HartwigAdam Hartwig has joined Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. as a capital management analyst.  He is a former manager of Middlesex Township with more than 10 years of experience in local government.

He’s also a past executive director of the Butler County Council of Government who served in the Butler County Association of Township Officials, the Butler County Parks and Recreation Board, and the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors.

Hartwig began his career in the management of sewer authorities, where he handled the administrative duties of the authority, oversaw daily operations of the wastewater treatment plant, and performed rate and budget analyses.  He then transitioned to the role of municipal manager, overseeing the day-to-day operations of a growing township where his duties included overseeing their police and public works department.

Hartwig has a decade of experience with budgeting, capital planning, and capital improvement programs.  He applies this knowledge and experience on behalf of municipalities at HRG, helping them manage operations, pursue grant funding, and prepare budgets.  He also assists with long-term strategic planning.

ABOUT HERBERT, ROWLAND & GRUBIC, INC

Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. (HRG) is a nationally ranked design firm providing civil engineering, surveying, and environmental services. The firm was founded in Harrisburg in 1962 and has grown to employ more than 250 people in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. For more information, please visit the website at www.hrg-inc.com.

Bob Grimm Joins HRG as Municipal Consulting and Management Strategist

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Bob Grimm is now serving as a municipal consulting and management strategist at Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. (HRG).  Grimm previously served as the town manager for McCandless, a home rule charter municipality in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, with more than 29,000 residents.

Grimm has more than 40 years of experience in municipal public service, primarily in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. He began his career assisting the city engineer in Oil City, Pennsylvania, then served as city planner for two years in Fairmont, West Virginia.  Over the next 10 years, he acquired increasing responsibility before returning to the Pittsburgh area and joining Beaver Falls as a city manager in 1996.  Since then, Grimm has held a similar position in North Fayette Township and the Town of McCandless.

Bob Grimm

Grimm has vast experience in every aspect of municipal operations:

  • managing staff, labor contracts, and pensions;
  • coordinating with other levels of local, state, and federal government;
  • engaging and communicating with the public;
  • bidding and administering contracts;
  • preparing budgets;
  • managing expenditures;
  • planning and overseeing the completion of capital projects (such as annual paving programs, highway improvements, parks, sanitary and storm sewer compliance, etc.)
  • preparing audits and financial reports; and
  • securing and administering millions of dollars in grant funding.

“HRG has been providing engineering and related services to local municipalities for 60 years, and we are constantly evolving to meet the needs of these communities,” HRG assistant vice president Jim Feath says. “Bob Grimm will help us expand our capabilities beyond infrastructure and capital funding to advise on all aspects of municipal operations and strategic planning.  Few people know the challenges and opportunities facing municipal leaders better than Bob, and I know he will do a great job guiding our municipal clients toward their desired goals.”

 

ABOUT HERBERT, ROWLAND & GRUBIC, INC.

Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. (HRG) is a nationally ranked design firm providing civil engineering, surveying, and environmental services. The firm was founded in Harrisburg in 1962 and has grown to employ more than 250 people in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. For more information, please visit the website at www.hrg-inc.com.

Bridgeport Transportation and Land Use Study Receives Planning Award

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HRG was part of a team that was honored this week at the Places 2040 Planning Leadership Awards. Our project, the Bridgeport Transportation and Land Use Study, was recognized in the Thinking Beyond Borders category. Thinking Beyond Borders is one of five “Big Ideas” in Lancaster County’s comprehensive plan (otherwise known as places2040). It promotes cooperation across traditional boundaries to achieve regional goals, and the Bridgeport Transportation and Land Use Study exemplifies this approach.

Bridgeport began as a historic village and gateway for travel between Lancaster’s city neighborhoods and its rural landscapes, dating as far back as the 1800s. Today, it encompasses portions of four municipalities: the City of Lancaster and East Lampeter, West Lampeter, and Lancaster Townships. These four municipalities worked together on a shared vision for the area’s transportation infrastructure, trails, and land use policies in order to enhance walkability, reduce congestion, and create vibrant spaces for the community to enjoy.

HRG provided transportation planning services and cost estimates for the creation of this study. Derck & Edson led public engagement and provided streetscape and land planning services. Town Planning Partnership, LLC, assisted with land planning and public engagement. All municipalities and the Lancaster County Planning Department provided representatives for the steering committee. Over 800 local community members provided essential input/feedback as part of the planning effort.

We’re humbled to be recognized among so many great projects at the Places 2040 award ceremony, and we’re thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this project team.

Bridgeport Transportationa and Land Use Study team accepts the Places2040 planning leadership award

(L-R) Bob Shenk, Steve Hackett (Derck & Edson), Ryan Hostetter (HRG), Cindy McCormick (City of Lancaster), Tara Hitchens (East Lampeter Township), Mark Evans (Derck & Edson, Town Planning Partners), Terry Martin (Lancaster County Planning Commission), Ben Bamford (Lancaster County Planning Commission)

 

 

Matthew Attig Joins Our Civil Group in York

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Matthew AttigMatthew Attig has joined the civil engineering group at Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. He is the most recent person to join the firm’s rapidly growing York office, which has experienced a 75% increase in sales in the first quarter of 2022 and has been adding talent across all of its service areas.

HRG’s assistant vice president and office manager Tim Staub says, “We’ve been working hard to build a strong municipal client base in York, and it’s rewarding to see our vision being embraced by the community.  Part of that vision is attracting the best and brightest talent to serve our clients by providing an inspiring team culture and ample opportunities for professional growth, so I’m proud and happy to welcome Matt to the team.  He is a homegrown talent with great ideas and a fresh perspective, thanks to his extensive community involvement throughout York County.  He wants nothing more than to positively impact the communities and waterways he grew up with, and he is a perfect fit for the evolving needs of our clients and communities.”

Attig has five years of experience with stormwater management, NPDES permitting, erosion and sedimentation control, ordinance writing, plan reviews, and construction management.  He has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from The Pennsylvania State University and is a board member for the Watershed Alliance of York.

 

 

ABOUT HRG

Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. (HRG) is a nationally ranked design firm providing civil engineering, surveying, and environmental services to public and private sector clients throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia.  The firm was founded in Harrisburg in 1962 and has grown to employ more than 250 people across the tri-state region.  For more information, please visit the firm’s website at www.hrg-inc.com.

Jason Hinz Honored as One of Engineering’s Top Young Professionals

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Jason HinzJason Hinz is being honored by Engineering News-Record (ENR) magazine as one of the Top Young Professionals in the construction and design industry.  He is profiled alongside the other honorees in the February issue of ENR’s Mid-Atlantic edition.

Hinz is a civil group manager at Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. (HRG).  He oversees a team of almost 30 professionals who primarily provide municipal engineering support to local communities and also assist with water quality and stormwater management needs.

He is also committed to serving his community.  Hinz is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and volunteers his time planting trees and cleaning up litter.

HRG’s civil practice area leader Matt Bonanno says, “Jason inspires and motivates his team with a calm and thoughtful demeanor, and he regularly receives glowing reviews of his work from his clients.  We are grateful to have him on the HRG team, and we’re happy to see him recognized by ENR alongside a very talented group of industry peers.”

 

ABOUT ENGINEERING NEWS-RECORD’S TOP YOUNG PROFESSIONALS PROGRAM

Engineering News-Record is a weekly magazine with more than 60,000 paid subscribers that covers news in the architecture, engineering and construction industry. In addition to its national publication, it also publishes several regional editions.

Each year, the regional editions recognize 20 industry professionals as the “best of the best.”  Applicants are evaluated on their education, industry experience, leadership, and community service.

The Mid-Atlantic edition focuses on Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C.

 

ABOUT HRG

Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. (HRG) is a nationally ranked design firm providing civil engineering, surveying, and environmental services. The firm was founded in Harrisburg in 1962 and has grown to employ more than 250 people in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. For more information, please visit the website at www.hrg-inc.com.

 

Steve Malesker Joins HRG as Senior Project Manager

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Steve MaleskerSteve Malesker recently joined HRG as a senior project manager in our Transportation Group.  He is responsible for bridge design and inspection projects throughout the south-central counties of Pennsylvania.

Steve has extensive experience managing bridge inspection, replacement, and maintenance programs for York and Franklin Counties as well as Gettysburg Borough and many other municipalities. Steve has also served as a project manager for civil and municipal projects and as the retained municipal and bridge engineer of record for several municipalities in Central PA. He is a licensed professional engineer and certified bridge safety inspector with more than 20 years of experience.

Steve lives in Dallastown and is a board member of the Dallastown-Yoe Water Authority.  He is also a member of the Association for Bridge Construction and Design and the American Institute of Steel Construction.

“Steve is a talented and accomplished engineer, and his skills will be a great asset as we continue to grow our presence in the transportation markets across the commonwealth,” Tim Staub said.  Staub is an assistant vice president of HRG and manager of the firm’s York office.

Bill Kick agrees. “Most importantly, Steve fits right into the culture of HRG. Integrity and commitment to delivering for our clients are core values for HRG, and for Steve.  His knowledge and experience are impressive. I fully trust that Steve will be a great compliment to our team and serve HRG’s clients well.” Kick is an assistant vice president and manager of HRG’s Chambersburg office.

(View Steve’s full bio here.)

 

ABOUT HRG

Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. (HRG) is a nationally ranked design firm providing civil engineering, surveying, and environmental services.  The firm was founded in Harrisburg in 1962 and has grown to employ more than 250 people in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia.  For more information, please visit the website at www.hrg-inc.com

 

Route 39 Intersection Improvements Honored with Road & Bridge Safety Award

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West Hanover Township received a Road & Bridge Safety Award Friday for improvements that HRG designed at the intersection of Route 39 with Douglas and Devonshire Heights Roads. This location had been the site of several rear-end and angle accidents due to poor intersection alignment and sight distance deficiencies.  HRG realigned the intersection, installed a northbound right turn lane along Route 39, enhanced advance signing and pavement markings, and installed a flashing yellow control beacon.  We also increased the separation between this intersection and a second intersection where Douglas Road met Devonshire Heights Road. This second intersection had been less than 100 feet away from the Route 39 intersection, creating the opportunity for confusion and conflict between drivers.

Our civil practice area leader Matt Bonanno and our traffic team leader Eric Stump attended a brief ceremony at the intersection where West Hanover Township received their award from the Pennsylvania Highway Information Association (PHIA) and the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors. You can view the ceremony below:

 

 

You can also see photos of the project by clicking through this slideshow:

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ABOUT THE ROAD & BRIDGE SAFETY AWARD

The Road & Bridge Safety Award is given annually to townships that have completed road or bridge improvements in the prior year that increased public safety.  It is sponsored by the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, the Pennsylvania Highway Information Association, and PennDOT.

2 HRG Projects Honored by Tri-County Regional Planning Commission

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Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc (HRG) provided engineering services for two of the honorees at last week’s Premier Projects award ceremony: the Tuscarora Street Townhomes redevelopment and the West Caracas Avenue Parking Lot.

The Tuscarora Street Townhomes project successfully replaced an abandoned and blighted property in Susquehanna Township with new, affordable, and attractive housing. It was recognized in the Growing Our Communities category.

Tuscarora Street Townhomes redevelopment

A rendering of the proposed Tuscarora Street townhome development during design

The West Caracas Avenue Parking Lot incorporated stormwater Best Management Practices like porous pavement to promote groundwater recharge and reduce the amount of runoff from the site. These BMPs also filter pollutants from the runoff, protecting local water quality. At the same time, the design creates greater parking efficiency and improves access management in a vital economic center within the township. The project was recognized in the Growing Within Our Environment category. (You can learn more about the project and the benefits of porous pavement in this article.)

West Caracas Avenue wins Premier Project Award

(From left to right) HRG team members Scott Fisher, Alex Greenly, Lindsay Bonanno, and Matt Bonanno celebrate the West Caracas Avenue parking lot honor with Derry Township leaders Charles Emerick, Lauren Zumbrun,Mike Callahan, and David Habig

We want to congratulate the Dauphin County Land Bank Authority, Susquehanna Township, and Derry Township, on these honors and thank them for the opportunity to assist with each project.

ABOUT THE PREMIER PROJECT AWARDS

This annual awards program is sponsored by the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission to honor projects which exemplify the goals of Dauphin County’s comprehensive plan. Land development, ordinance revisions, infrastructure improvements, and revitalization initiatives are all eligible for this recognition.

ABOUT HRG

Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. (HRG) is a nationally ranked design firm providing civil engineering, surveying, and environmental services. The firm was founded in Harrisburg in 1962 and has grown to employ more than 200 people in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. For more information, please visit the website at www.hrg-inc.com.

Laura Ludwig Joins HRG as a Community Planner

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Laura Ludwig portraitLaura Ludwig has joined the Pittsburgh office of Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. (HRG) as a community planner.  She will assist HRG’s municipal clients with zoning, ordinance amendments, and requests for land development plan approvals and permits.  She will also act as a liaison between community groups, government agencies, developers and other stakeholders in developing neighborhood plans.

She has extensive experience as a community organizer, municipal government employee, and consultant.  Prior to joining HRG, she served as the director of community development for North Fayette Township.  Her responsibilities included guiding residents and businesses through the subdivision and land development review process, ensuring local construction project comply with codes and ordinances, and implementing the community’s comprehensive land use plan.  She also worked as a private consultant, drafting a comprehensive plan for South Beaver Township and assisting dozens of municipalities with their zoning and land use programs.

Ms. Ludwig earned her master’s degree in urban and regional affairs from the University of Pittsburgh and is certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners

 

ABOUT HRG

Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. (HRG) is a nationally ranked design firm providing civil engineering, surveying, and environmental services. The firm was founded in Harrisburg in 1962 and has grown to employ more than 200 people in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. For more information, please visit the website at www.hrg-inc.com.