Pulaski County panel recommends HWC Engineering to lead county comprehensive plan update

The Pulaski County Economic Development Commission heard that a seven-member selection committee interviewed five firms and recommended HWC Engineering to prepare the county's comprehensive plan.

Staff told the commission that contract negotiations are wrapping up and that the county’s plan administrator will present the contract to the planning commission for review and a recommendation to the board of commissioners. "Our committee of seven interviewed all five firms that had submitted and we ultimately selected HWC Engineering," the staff member said.

Why it matters: The plan will guide land use, economic development and public investments across Pulaski County for the coming years. Staff outlined a public-engagement schedule that includes monthly status reports to the steering committee, three public input workshops, eight focus-group and stakeholder meetings, and two larger open-house “big ideas” events — one in the eastern part of the county and one in the west — before drafting final recommendations.

Staff estimated the work will take roughly 12 months once the contract is fully executed and said it hopes the process will begin around July 1, pending planning commission action and the commissioners’ sign-off. The presenter emphasized the process will include required reviews and a joint commissioners’ council session once newly elected officials have taken their seats.

Next steps: Staff will seek a planning commission recommendation; if the planning commission recommends the contract, staff will forward the recommendation to the county commissioners for final approval.