Trumbull planner now makes retirement plans
Commission director taking leave after 27 yearsBy RON SELAK JR. Tribune Chronicle
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WARREN - In his North Park Avenue office, Alan Knapp gestured with his hand to bookshelves containing volumes of plans to develop Trumbull County.
Concepts to better the area, he says, are well and good, but what Knapp wants to see are those designs on paper translate to sewerlines in the earth or the continued development of outdoor recreational activities, like the completion of the bicycle trail splitting Trumbull County.
In his 27 years at the Trumbull County Planning Commission, the last four and a half as its director, Knapp said he's confident the projects the agency has undertaken helped improve Trumbull County and more importantly, the lives of those living here.
''To get things implemented, get things constructed, that is very satisfying,'' Knapp, 52, said.
That's what he says he's most proud of - seeing projects benefiting residents completed, like getting water and sewerlines built in low-income areas to alleviate health concerns of those living there.
''I know we've solved some pollution problems,'' Knapp said. ''People used to get sewage in their basements and that's not happening anymore.''
His last day was Wednesday. Taking over is William Miller, former director of the regional planning division of the Ohio-Kentucky-Regional Council of Governments.
Knapp was hired in 1981 out of the University of Akron to work on recreational planning in Trumbull County, but as the direction of planning changed here, so did his job. Economic development became the rage with money becoming available to counties to make low-interest business loans and the creation of a revolving loan fund at the county level.
Toward the later 1980s, Trumbull County began giving tax incentives to encourage business to expand.
And Knapp played a role in each.
''My entry into Trumbull County was through an intern project,'' Knapp said. ''I successfully completed my project, they hired me and I've been here ever since.''
Recently, he and the office along with the county's health board and sanitary engineer's office, have been focusing on what's called the Blueprint for Sewers, an initiative to alleviate health risks caused by malfunctioning septic systems in several parts of Trumbull County. The goal is to install tens of millions worth of sewers in the next decade.
''One of the things that I'm most proud of is that our staff stepped into that,'' Knapp said.
Knapp said he plans to take some time off and recover from recent health issues. He dismisses the notion that after working for nearly 30 years, he'll get bored quickly.
''I don't think I'll have any trouble finding things to do,'' he said.
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noncompomentis
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01-02-09 11:23 AM
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I hope Alan enjoys his retirement. From all indications, he took the job seriously and had a vision for the betterment of our county. We wish you well wiith the health problems and a long and prosperous retirement.
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pahootaman
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01-02-09 8:39 AM
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Looks like his mustache has another 6-8 years before retirement.
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