What's Happening In Mifflinburg
Borough Council Reorganizes
Posted on 02-01-2010by Jeff Shaffer / Standard Journal News
In early January at the Mifflinburg Borough Council's annual reorganizational meeting a new mayor and two new councilmen were sworn into office. Mifflinburg's new mayor is David Cooney and joining council are Ben Dietrich and Jason Fritz. At the same meeting Bob Brouse was elected council president and Betsy Robertson council vice president. News & Views asked for an "Up Close and Personal" from each of these folks to acquaint our readers with those who will be serving our community. They join long time councilmen Mike Snook, owner of In-Wood Design and Ryan Stahl of Gutelius Excavating.
Mayor David Cooney is a lifelong Mifflinburg resident. He owns and operates Gallery358 … David Cooney Photography located on Chestnut Street. David has an interest in the borough’s economic development and strengthening Mifflinburg’s sense of community through a variety of activities and events. He has been the “Voice of the Wildcats,” Mifflinburg High School’s varsity football stadium announcer for 13 years. He lives on Green Street with his wife Marcia, his two children, Sarah and Andrew and their two puppies, Potter and Bucky. Mifflinburg residents are encouraged to meet David and hear more about his ideas at Mifflinburg Bank & Trust’s new Community Room on Wednesday February 24, 2010 from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm.
Council President Bob Brouse was born in Mifflinburg but grew up in Lewisburg. He moved back to Mifflinburg 1988. A graduate of Lewisburg High School, he also attended Kirksville State Teachers College. Bob served in the USAF from 1958 through 1962. After returning to this area, he was employed by PennDot for 33 years and served as Union County Commissioner from 2000 through 2003. Over the years, Bob was active in the Lewisburg Lions Club, advisor for Boy Scout Explorer Troop 2501 and Commander of the Mifflinburg Legion. Currently he is active in the Lewisburg Alumni Association, the Mifflinburg Wrestling Association., the MHRA Board, and the Mifflinburg Borough Council for 3 plus years. Bob lives with his wife Cara on Walnut Street. They have three children and 5 grandchildren.
Council Vice President Betsy Robertson represents the East Ward along with Bob Brouse, and Jason Fritz. She is serving as chair of the Personnel Committee and a member of the Finance Committee. She and Mayor Cooney were also appointed to work on regional economic development initiatives. Three years ago, Betsy opened Robertson Public Relations in Mifflinburg, following a 25-year career in that field. She served as Deputy Press Secretary to First Lady Nancy Reagan at The White House, and Director of Communications at Susquehanna University. She is a 1997 graduate of Leadership Susquehanna Valley and serves on its board of directors.
New to council, Ben Dietrich represents Mifflinburg’s west ward. He graduated from Mifflinburg High in 1994 and from West Virginia University with a BS in Landscape Architecture in 1998.Ben worked for the well known Landscape Architecture Firm, Derck and Edson Associates, in Lancaster County from 1999-2003. While there he received his state licensure in 2001 and was a project construction manager for land development projects involving the construction of College, High School, and Retirement Village Campuses along with Municipal Parks and Streetscape Projects. In 2004 Ben and his wife Paula decided to move to back to Ben’s hometown of Mifflinburg. After working for Herbert, Rowland & Grubic (HRG) Engineering for several years as a project manager, Ben started his own firm. Ben, his wife Paula and their two children live on Lime Ridge.
Also new to council is Jason Fritz, representing the East Ward. Jason says I’m proud to say that I’ve lived in this great little town my entire life. I was born in 1974 and was in the first class to go through the newly-built Mifflinburg Elementary school in 1980. I spent my childhood playing with friends in the streets and alleys, playing sports, traveling with my parents, hunting/fishing with my father and grandfather, and going to the community pool during the summer and the old ice skating pond at the park during the winter. In my high school years, I worked different jobs such as delivering pizza and washing dishes at the Scarlett D. I graduated from Mifflinburg High School in 1993 and went on to pursue a bachelors degree in Environmental Science from Susquehanna University, graduating in 1997.
Since then, I’ve worked in the environmental consulting business for a few different firms in State College (currently Chester Engineers) and have worked on a variety of projects from environmental remediation consulting for industrial clients to water supply development/consulting for municipal clients. During this time, I’ve traveled extensively having worked on the island of Trinidad for seven months as my most memorable and rewarding experience. I met my wonderful wife, Daphine, who also grew up in Mifflinburg, and married in 2000. We now have two wonderful children, Jon, 6, and Sarah, 4.
Mifflinburg will always be home for us, and I want to see the Borough continue to be the same safe nurturing community for our children to grow up in, as I always knew it. However with a changing global (and local) economy, we need to be vigilant in sustaining and growing our community’s economic viability so that our children will have the same opportunities and more.
Article and Photos provided courtesy Standard-Journal News.