SLIPPERY ROCK - The borough has the chance to update its comprehensive plan for a fraction of the regular cost.

The way to accomplish this is to join with surrounding municipalities and create a joint plan, according to Dick Manning, a member of the borough's planning commission.

Manning updated borough council members Tuesday night at the borough building. Members of five municipalities have been meeting for a few months to study the feasibility of such a plan, said Manning. The municipalities are the borough and Slippery Rock, Worth and Brady townships and West Liberty.

Advantages of joint planning include cost savings and increased communication between the governments, Manning said.

"This is the only time since I've been around that all the municipalities have gotten together to solve existing problems and plan for problems 10 years in the future," said Manning.

Based on estimates, the borough could pay about $2,000 for the plan, said Manning. If the borough would do a comprehensive plan just for the borough, it would cost about $40,000, he said.

The joint plan could cost up to $100,000, but federal and state grants would likely be available to pay for it since the municipalities are working together, Manning said.

The borough's last plan was in 1987. Municipalities usually update them every 10 years, according to Manning.

Each municipality seems committed to planning together, but the next step is to pass a resolution to that effect, said Manning.

"We don't know the true commitments until a resolution is passed," he said.

The planning group will meet at the end of May to develop one resolution that can be voted on by each municipality, said Jesse Hines, the code enforcement officer for the borough. The group hopes the municipalities can vote on the resolution in June.

Hines said he wanted to update the borough's plan and asked the Slippery Rock Township supervisors if they wanted to work together. The township's plan is also almost 20 years old.

"We didn't want to leave the others (municipalities) out so they were invited, too," he said.

"Sounds like there's good cooperation already," said Christy Tichy, borough council member.

Council members agreed to study the resolution on June 7.